Before you compare processors or screens, there’s a bigger choice to make: which kind of laptop. Chromebooks, Windows laptops and MacBooks can look alike on a shelf, but they behave very differently once you own one. Picking the wrong type is a more expensive mistake than picking the wrong model.
The short version
| Chromebook | Windows laptop | MacBook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | Lowest | Widest range, cheap to very expensive | Highest starting price |
| Runs | Web apps, Android apps, some Linux apps | Almost everything | Mac apps, most major creative and office software |
| Gaming | Cloud gaming only, mostly | Best by far | Limited, but improving |
| Works offline | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| Upkeep | Almost none | Some | Little |
| Repairs and upgrades | Rarely possible | Depends on the model | Rarely possible |
| Best for | Browsing, schoolwork, simple needs | Flexibility, games, specialist software | Battery life, creative work, people with an iPhone |
Chromebooks: simple on purpose
A Chromebook runs ChromeOS, which is mostly the Chrome browser with a desktop around it. If your day happens in a browser, with email, documents, streaming and video calls, a Chromebook does all of it with less fuss than anything else. It starts in seconds, updates itself quietly, and is hard to break with a bad download.
Where it falls down: software. You can’t install regular Windows or Mac programs. That rules out most PC games, the full desktop versions of many professional apps, and a lot of course-specific software in engineering, design and accounting. Check before you buy for a student.
One thing to check: every Chromebook has a date after which it stops getting updates. Newer models get around ten years from when the model was first released, but an older model sold cheaply may have only a few years left. Search the model name with “auto update expiration” before you pay.
Windows laptops: the one that does everything
Windows runs the widest range of software and comes on the widest range of hardware. There are light ones, huge ones, touchscreen ones, ones that fold flat, and ones with graphics cards that rival a desktop. If you play games, need a specific program for work or school, or want to be able to upgrade and repair your machine, Windows is usually the answer.
Where it falls down: consistency. A great Windows laptop and a terrible one can sit side by side at similar prices. Cheap models often arrive loaded with trial software, and the quality of screens, speakers and trackpads varies a lot. You have to read the specs. Our guide to reading a spec sheet helps here.
One thing to check: some thin Windows laptops now use Snapdragon chips instead of Intel or AMD. They have excellent battery life, and most everyday apps run fine, but some games and older or specialist programs don’t work. If you depend on a particular program, look it up first.
MacBooks: fewer choices, fewer surprises
Apple makes a small number of models, and even the cheapest one has a good screen, a good trackpad, good speakers and long battery life. Since Apple switched to its own M-series chips, MacBooks run cool and quiet and often last a full working day on a charge. They also tend to hold their resale value.
Where it falls down: price and flexibility. You pay more up front, upgrades to memory and storage are expensive, and you can’t add either later. Gaming is still limited compared with Windows. Some specialist software, especially in engineering and finance, is Windows only.
One thing to check: buy the memory and storage you’ll need for the whole life of the laptop, because what you choose at checkout is permanent.
Three questions that settle it
1. Is there a program you must run? Find out which systems it supports. This one question decides the matter for a lot of students and professionals.
2. Do you want to play games? If yes, and you mean games installed on the laptop, buy Windows. Our Gaming & Productivity Laptops page is a good place to start.
3. What else do you own? An iPhone works neatly with a Mac. An Android phone pairs well with a Chromebook or Windows. It’s a convenience, not a requirement, but you’ll notice it every day.
Who should buy what
- A child, a grandparent, or anyone who wants “the internet, and nothing going wrong”: Chromebook.
- A student whose course lists required software: whatever that software runs on, which is usually Windows.
- Someone who wants one laptop for work and games: Windows.
- A writer, photographer, video editor or frequent traveler who values battery life: MacBook, or a premium thin Windows laptop.
- Someone on a tight budget who needs real Windows programs: a mid-range or refurbished Windows laptop beats a bargain-bin new one.
There isn’t a best type, only the best fit. Decide the type first, and the long list of models gets short very quickly.
More reading: all Dealmania articles