One other important consideration that’s unique to laptops is the form factor as it relates to portability. Unlike desktop PCs, laptops can travel with you or stay put. Depending on how you’ll use it, a smaller display and lighter overall build could be better for business and traveling. Even if you opt for a laptop with a larger 15-inch or 17-inch display, you could cover your bases by making sure you can connect to an external display if desired. Other top factors to consider include the amount of RAM, internal storage, and the quality of the graphics card. Even if you’ll be using a laptop mostly for word processing or media streaming, consider the option to expand memory for peppier performance or whether you want a speedy solid-state drive (SSD) out of the gate. Explore our collection of the best laptops at Walmart to help you find the best gaming, business, or all-purpose device for you. For gaming fans, the Helios 300 may not appear too bulky, but if you’re used to lighter laptops, this device clocks in at well above more portable models at over 6 pounds. You also won’t be able to count on more than 6 hours or so from the battery, but rapid Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and enough processing prowess to deftly move from game to game for fully immersive play are all pluses for gaming enthusiasts. While this laptop does come installed with Windows 10 in S Mode, you can easily opt out of it after setup if you want more freedom to use other browsers and applications that aren’t permitted in S Mode. Once you do that, the easy dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth support, and Intel Core i3 processor have your back for easy productivity or kicking back to listen to your favorite songs or start a movie marathon. The 4GB of RAM is expandable to 12GB and the 128GB SSD promises speedy transitions and faster boot times than a hard disc drive. This touchscreen laptop also provides decent flexibility with onboard storage, which is expandable to up to 512GB of SSD storage. Onboard memory is slightly less expandable at just up to 16GB of RAM, but even the base 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD should be more than enough for storing most of your files and enjoying hiccup-free daily computing. While the Acer 315 is limited to the Chrome OS and Google productivity apps, if you’re a consistent user of this suite of tools, everything will be at your fingertips and quickly accessible via the cloud. Standard RAM starts at 4GB and the hard drive capacity is 32GB, but cloud storage and the microSD slot will easily fill in any gaps with your storage needs. You’ll also get two USB Type-C and two USB 3.0 ports to work with for any external gear for streaming videos, transferring data, or even connecting to an external monitor. While only 8GB of RAM is supported, the 256GB SSD, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, MU-MIMO, and Bluetooth connectivity should ably support your entertainment sessions without any drops or storage hiccups. The solid 8.5-hour battery life will also keep you going for hours-long gameplay or catching up on your new favorite streaming series. RAM capacity is limited to 8GB, but that should be sufficient for most users who want a laptop/tablet for work and leisure. You can also count on adequate multitasking speed from the 8th generation Quad-Core Intel i5 processor and 256GB SSD. You’ll also enjoy solid connectivity via a variety of USB ports and a MicroSD slot and Wi-Fi 5 and MU-MIMO support. Other accents like a webcam kill switch, fingerprint reader, and IR camera act as desirable finishing touches for privacy and convenience. The 15.6-inch 1920x1080 FHD display is sharp and speedy with anti-glare and Dolby Vision and a refresh rate of 144HZ. You’ll also have a Dolby Atmos stereo speaker system to create an even more immersive experience. When you’re not using the 720p camera, the built-in privacy shutter is there for your convenience. The Lenovo Legion 7i is also equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 for reliable and cord-free connectivity. While it’s on the costlier end of the spectrum and maxes out with a 6-hour battery capacity, there are plenty of reasons for serious gamers to invest in this solidly built gaming laptop. There’s a decent assortment of ports for working with other computer peripherals but only one USB-C port. Like many laptops, the stereo speakers are positioned on the bottom of the device, so they won’t deliver the best audio quality available. But the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Bluetooth 5, Gigabit ethernet, and long battery life (around 11 hours) are important key features for any business laptop.
What to Look for in Laptops at Walmart
Operating System
A laptop’s operating system plays a big role in the user experience. If you have a preference for macOS or even certain Windows versions, this can help you hone your search. If you’re more open to a variety of options including Chromebooks, consider the level of compatibility a model offers with your favorite productivity tools and uses.
Size
Laptops are all portable, but some are more travel-ready than others. Lightweight Chromebooks and some slimmer 2-in-1s could be best if you need to tote around your device. Studier machines meant for gaming or professional use at home could be preferable if you don’t need to move around with it and want the benefit of more rugged hardware.
Hardware
For general computing, 4GB of RAM should be fine, but if you’re a big multitasker or gamer, you’ll likely want more like 8GB or 16GB as well as a speedy, high-capacity SSD versus a hard disk drive. Other important hardware considerations include the processor speed and graphics card, which impact the variety of more heavy-duty tasks like photo-editing or gaming a machine can handle and how crisp and lag-free streaming, gaming, and other media content looks.
