Buying computer equipment in the domestic market causes not only a lot of positive emotions, but also a number of problems associated with choosing a worthy product from a huge range of goods. As practice shows, about 50% of users end up getting something completely different from what they originally wanted. Some are let down by the performance of a mobile device, others by ease of use or high cost.
In this article, the reader will learn how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop that can handle all the tasks. Tips, recommendations, reviews and reviews of worthy products will help a potential buyer quickly navigate the computer market and avoid becoming a victim of scammers and unscrupulous sellers.
Physical dimensions first
Before proceeding to the technical part of the question, the user needs to decide on the diagonal of the mobile device. The fact is that it is the size of the laptop that affects the final cost of the product. Read before choosing a laptop inexpensive, but good, expert reviews. They will clarify this issue:
- devices with a diagonal of 8-11 inches are designed for entertainment on the Internet and are aimed at active people who always want to stay in touch;
- a diagonal of 12-13 inches occupies the corporate segment (business, business trips, conferences, trainings);
- consumer laptops are given a niche of 14-16 inch devices;
- for lovers of resource-intensive games, as well as for creative individuals, a specialized niche has been created, which includes laptops with a diagonal of 17-20 inches.
From simple to complex
The cheapest devices on the mobile market that have a physical keyboard are netbooks with a diagonal of 8-11 inches. When choosing, it is better to focus not on performance, but on the autonomy of work on a single battery charge. Ideally, such a device should work on a single charge for about 6-8 hours.
Those who are interested in how to choose a good inexpensive netbook can be advised to pay attention to the display of a mobile device. It must be of high quality (IPS matrix), have a high resolution (at least 1366x768 dpi) and have decent brightness. The bonus here is the presence of a multi-touch sensor. Netbooks Asus Transformer, Acer One, Lenovo IdeaPad and HP Stream have proven themselves well in the domestic market.
Real businessman
Before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop in the segment of 12-13 inch devices, you need to decide on the list of tasks that will be assigned to the mobile device. The recommendations of experts in this matter are quite understandable - you need to divide all the requirements into two components:
- work is the cheapest segment;
- entertainment is an expensive class.
Then everything is simple - choosing the desired category, the buyer focuses on the cost, appearance and ease of use. If the user wants to combine business with pleasure, then it is better to give preference to a more expensive device.
office kid
Stopping at the segment of mobile devices with a diagonal of 12-13 inches, many users do not know how to choose a good and inexpensive laptop for working with office applications. Indeed, for equipment of this category, it is difficult to name a low price (20-25 thousand rubles). If the user does not plan to play resource-intensive toys, then it is better to focus on the amount of RAM that is used when working with programs. The second selection criterion is the processor. It is better to give preference to a device with two cores and an operating frequency of more than 2 GHz.
You should not overpay extra money for an increased capacity of a hard drive and a discrete video adapter. All modern laptops have components that will not create inconvenience to the owner during operation. In this segment, the following are considered worthy: HP ProBook 430, Acer Aspire V3 and Asus Zenbook.
Work time killers
Many users are interested in how to choose a good one that can be used for business purposes. It is clear that a potential buyer wants to combine business with pleasure. Everything is simple here - you need to focus on the central processor and the gaming video card. All other components (memory and hard drive) have already been selected by the manufacturer to increase the gaming power of the mobile device.
With processors, everything is clear - it is better to give preference to products of the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 line, but with a video card you need to be extremely careful. It is better to focus on the game class. For Nvidia products, the label must have at least a 4 in the second position (for example, GTX 960M). Worthy products in this segment include: Dell Alienware 13 and
Segment of elite devices
Among users looking for information on how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop for games and work, there will certainly be fans of Apple products. In the mobile technology market, under the logo of this brand, there are just devices for combining work with leisure, equipped with 11-13 inch screens. Although the manufacturer does not please potential buyers with a large assortment, but there are no identical devices in the product line - finding the necessary gadget in terms of performance and price is quite simple.
In the inexpensive segment (from 80,000 rubles), you can look at MacBook and MacBook Air laptops that can handle any office tasks and multimedia work. But gamers should prefer the more advanced MacBook Pro devices in terms of performance. Mobile equipment of this class will cope with any resource-intensive games, not to mention the complex tasks invented by the user.
Inexpensive home solution
The cheapest 14-inch form factor laptops are in the price range up to 25,000 rubles. The task of such devices is to provide the user with access to the Internet and the ability to work with multimedia. And before choosing a laptop that is inexpensive, but good, for home, in this segment, you should get used to the idea that a mobile device will not be capable of more. No resource-intensive games, convenient transportation, or long battery life should be expected.
As for advice, there are simply none. The buyer must choose the cheapest laptop that he liked in the store window. The only advice given by experts to home users is that it is better to buy mobile equipment without a pre-installed operating system. In this case, the savings will be about 20-30% of the total cost of the laptop.
Hot Selling
Multimedia devices for work and great pastime with a diagonal of 14-15 inches occupy almost half of the market, and here the choice is made according to the specific tasks of buyers. The user, of course, is interested in the question of how to choose a good inexpensive laptop in this segment. There is a list of basic requirements for all laptops of this class, you should definitely familiarize yourself with them:
- low price;
- portability and autonomy;
- high performance;
- mobility, beauty and elegance.
And then the user will have to choose the two most important criteria from the four provided by the experts. Having chosen the right items, finding a decent laptop will not be a problem. What you shouldn't do is claim 3 or 4 points. The fact is that it is impossible to find a device with all requests at the same time in this class of mobile technology.
The most productive devices
Before looking for answers to the question “how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop for games”, it is worth deciding on the gaming applications themselves that the user plans to run on a mobile device. The fact is that a high-performance gadget capable of coping with resource-intensive applications at maximum settings cannot a priori have a low cost.
You can play Dota 2 or drive a tank in World of Tanks on inexpensive devices with integrated video adapters or entry-level discrete solutions, but to run FarCry 4, FIFA 16 or Fallout 4, you need a very powerful laptop equipped with a modern processor and a high-performance graphics card.
Ready-made solutions for players
Game lovers, before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop, you need to pay attention to the presence of a gaming video adapter. It is this device that determines the purpose of mobile technology in the market. AMD products must have the "R9" series, while Nvidia solutions are classified by the second digit in the label, which must be at least five.
The second criterion when choosing a gaming solution is the presence of a powerful central processor with 4 physical cores: Intel Core i5 / i7 or AMD A4. You shouldn't even look at platforms of a lower class - they are not adapted for resource-intensive games.
As for the RAM and hard drive, it’s already worth looking at finances, of course, the larger the volume, the better for efficient work. In the gaming segment, Asus N752 and ROG series laptops, Acer Aspire Nitro and Predator, and Dell Precision and Alienware laptops have proven themselves well.
Computer for creativity
Many users, wondering how to choose a laptop that is inexpensive but good for gaming, find that gaming solutions are not at all in the expensive segment. Having a diagonal of 17-20 inches and high cost, mobile devices are not at all intended for games due to the lack of powerful discrete video adapters. But the amount of RAM is simply amazing (8-16 gigabytes). These devices are intended for designers, programmers, editors and other creative people.
The main criterion for such a device, in addition to RAM, is a high-performance processor that can quickly perform complex calculations. Users should not forget about the quality of the liquid crystal display, which is capable of excellent color reproduction (IPS-matrix).
Minimum RAM Requirements
The weak link in all portable systems on the domestic market is the small amount of RAM, which many device manufacturers are trying to save on. Before choosing a good one, the user needs to know that for the full operation of one Windows operating system (8 or 10), 1.5-2 gigabytes of memory is needed. Accordingly, to run even office applications in a laptop, 2 times more memory must be installed. For games, the multiplicity is four.
Do not forget about the possibility of increasing performance - a mobile device must have at least one slot for installing additional memory modules. By the way, the laptop motherboard must also support the increase in RAM.
Constant in laptop
When wondering how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop for work, many potential buyers find some rather strange advice and recommendations in the media regarding the purchase of a mobile device with a weak processor. In the future, the user is offered to use the usual overclocking with the help of special utilities.
In fact, this is nonsense - the laptop is simply not able to work continuously at the maximum. The regular cooling system will fail at any moment, and the mobile device will burn. Repair and restoration are non-warranty cases.
The processor is better to choose the maximum allowable price, albeit to the detriment of the amount of RAM and hard drive. In fact, this is the only component in the system that cannot be replaced or duplicated.
Raising system performance
A potential buyer should not chase the speed of a hard drive, looking for an answer to the question of how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop. Expert reviews here come down to one thing - the hard drive still needs to be changed after purchasing a mobile device to a solid-state SSD drive. Otherwise, you can forget about the high performance of the platform forever.
Alternatively, you can initially purchase a laptop with such a drive, but the overpriced cost of such devices can scare even an experienced buyer. It is better not to trust such a question to the manufacturers of mobile equipment, but to take the process under your own control.
The Pursuit of Happyness
From year to year, more and more new gaming applications are released that force users to purchase more productive mobile devices in the computer market. Naturally, any buyer will ask the question: “How to choose an inexpensive but good laptop?” Asus (a Taiwanese manufacturer) approached this issue in a rather interesting way and offered the owners of portable devices the XG Station gadget, which plays the role of an external video adapter. The problem with resource-intensive games is fixed simply:
- a laptop with a powerful processor and the presence of additional slots for expanding the amount of RAM is purchased;
- you will need a monitor or LCD TV with an HDMI input;
- the gadget "Asus XG Station" and a productive video adapter in the computer market are purchased.
Dropping all fantasies
Having studied the advice, recommendations and reviews of the owners of mobile equipment, the experts came to disappointing conclusions - the majority of users, before choosing an inexpensive but good laptop, do not pay due attention to searching for information about the necessary device in the media. Hence the negative for mobile technology: heavy weight, slow operation, loud noise and similar problems related to the technical part.
A laptop is an ordinary personal computer, which is several times smaller in size and not so voracious in terms of power supply. You should not expect that an expensive mobile device will be able to perform additional functionality. The maximum is the provision of wireless technologies (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) and autonomous work outside the home. Everything. No need to fantasize about how spaceships surf the universe with a laptop.
Finally
Before choosing a laptop that is inexpensive, but good on the domestic market, the user just needs to get acquainted not only with the products, but also with the technologies that are used by the manufacturer when assembling a mobile device at the factory. A future owner who wants to purchase a decent gadget at an affordable price will have to abandon the abundant advertising in the media and study the basic components of a laptop and their purpose.
It is also worth trusting the recommendations of experts who are not interested in selling, but provide independent advice and reviews on products on their own initiative. Otherwise, it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a laptop according to the "price-quality" criterion.
When buying any equipment, you want it to perform the functions assigned to it for as long as possible, meet all the requirements and at the same time be affordable. Let's figure it out together how to choose an inexpensive, but good tablet, so that the purchased model in 2019-2020 is of high quality, attractive in terms of design and functionality.
Before purchasing a device, you need to decide which tablet is better to buy, and for this you should objectively assess your needs and capabilities. It is also important to carefully study the technical component of the device, because a beautiful shell is not everything.
Budget
The first step in choosing a new and good tablet begins with budgeting for this purchase. Naturally, the lower the cost of the device, the less high-end parameters and technologies can be found in it. However, this does not mean at all that a budget tablet cannot be reliable. If you are not going to make an expensive purchase, pay attention to the devices of the middle price segment from well-known manufacturers. They are inexpensive and do the job just fine.
What will the tablet be used for?
In many ways, the choice also depends on the purpose of the gadget, because it is hardly necessary for a child to buy a flagship of the most current model, and a device with a minimum of functions and capabilities will not suit an adult.
An inexpensive tablet is suitable for a student - at a low price of a budget device, the child will have access to all the functions he needs: reading books, watching videos, the Internet, undemanding applications and games.
If you are looking for a tablet for reading and watching movies in good quality, then it should have a display of at least 8 inches with a high resolution, a good video accelerator and ample storage.
When choosing a tablet model for games and the Internet, you should understand that the gaming device must have a powerful processor, a powerful video accelerator, a large amount of RAM, and devices for Internet surfing must have a good Wi-Fi module, a high-quality display, and a capacious battery. 3G, 4G modules are also welcome.
If you plan to use the tablet for work - typing, using graphics programs, etc. It is worth choosing a device on the appropriate OS, preferably Windows, as it has more optimized programs for work. Accordingly, it is not worth saving on the cost of the device.
From all this, we can draw the main conclusion: do not overpay for functions that you will never use - determine in advance the purpose of buying a gadget and its estimated cost!
What to look for when choosing a tablet
The main criterion for choosing a device, of course, will be its technical indicators. It depends on them whether the device can meet your needs. There are usually no tricks with branded devices. If you still decide to choose a Chinese tablet, then in this case, especially carefully look at the following parameters:
Operating system
If earlier Android actively competed with iOS, now Windows has risen almost to the same level with them. Each platform has strengths and weaknesses. But first of all, keep in mind that they are aimed at different user audiences.
Windows
Windows 10 and older are designed primarily for work activities. The same office suite as in the PC version is now available on your mobile device. Management is designed very simply and clearly, the menu is beautifully designed in the form of tiles. The system is always well protected thanks to anti-virus programs. However, if you are used to the Android interface, it will not be easy to adapt to this OS on a tablet, since it is not very similar to the computer version, and has little in common with mobile platforms.
- free access to standard programs for work
- interesting tile design
- simple control
- customizable security system
- developers create few gaming applications
- hard to get used to the proprietary interface
- requires good device performance
When buying a device with this OS, you should understand that the device should not be budgetary, since when using the system, it requires decent indicators of both internal and RAM.
iOS
Apple tablets (and smartphones) use the iOS mobile operating system. It is the second most popular platform after Android. Its distinctive feature is that the user's capabilities are limited. For example, the device does not have a file manager, there are problems with data exchange between devices, and it is also impossible to install third-party programs. However, there is an extensive content store with many free applications. If you are satisfied with the features offered by the platform, and the device is purchased mainly for gaming, then this is the right option.
- simple and nice interface
- own content store
- increased level of data protection
- high quality gadgets
- difficult to install programs from other sources
- it is impossible to personalize the interface
- difficulties in data exchange
- high cost of gadgets
Android
There are a lot more tablets on Android than on other operating systems. They are equally well suited for entertainment and for work. There is also an app store with a large assortment. You can customize the appearance of the platform at your discretion. You can install applications from other sources. It is worth noting that the Android content in the store is not checked for quality too meticulously, so it is not uncommon to find applications that do not work or give errors (even among paid ones). If the tablet is bought for entertainment, the Android platform is the best option.
- open interface
- a wide range of applications and games in the store
- Apps from unofficial sources install without problems
- low cost devices
- content quality is lower (for example, than in iOS)
- low level of protection
- annoying ads
Display
The screen is what we pay attention to when we first look at the gadget. To choose a good tablet in terms of screen size and other indicators, you need to know the main characteristics that you should be guided by:
Diagonal
Displays with a diagonal of 7-8 inches are considered the smallest. As a rule, they are present in the cheapest and not very productive devices, although there are exceptions. Differ in mobility, convenience and small weight.
The most common tablets are 8, 10 inches. Such models can be both budget and flagship. They are universal in the field of use and, of course, more expensive.
If you want to buy a tablet larger than 10 inches, be prepared for a high price, since, in fact, this is already practically a laptop. Manufacturers often supply such models with additional devices (keyboard, docking station, etc.). On a large device, it is also comfortable to perform various tasks, but transportation is difficult.
To understand what screen size is best for a tablet, think about how you will use it. The best option is a diagonal of 8-10 inches. Small details are clearly visible on such a screen, and it takes up little space.
Matrix types
The matrix occupies a very important place in the main characteristics of a tablet computer, because image formation and its quality depend on it. Nowadays, there are 4 main technologies for manufacturing a display matrix, which we will now analyze:
- IPS is not perfect, but a good matrix, the most common among gadgets. Perfectly conveys the saturation, brightness, clarity of the image. Provides true color reproduction in perfect whites and good viewing angles.
- TFT is the simplest and cheapest matrix, characterized by weak viewing angles and insufficiently accurate color reproduction. One thing can be said about it, it is the technology of the "last century".
- Retina is a type of matrix used only in Apple gadgets. One of the best in quality and color rendering.
- Super Amoled - Most often found on Samsung tablets. It has good color reproduction, clarity, saturation. This technology does not require general backlighting, individual pixels glow in them, which does not always convey colors with high quality, this applies to budget models on flagship devices, there are basically no such lags.
When choosing the best tablet for yourself, be sure to check the viewing angle, as some manufacturers put a modified version of TFT IPS in their devices, passing it off as an IPS matrix.
Display resolution is the size of the resulting image, which is measured in pixels. This is a very important indicator that affects the comfortable operation of the device, its battery life and cost. The higher this indicator, the better. It is best to give preference to the format 1920 by 1200 pixels (Full HD), although high-quality expensive models have such characteristics. In less expensive devices, there are indicators of 1280 by 800 or 1024 by 600. For everyday use of the tablet, a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels will be enough, taking into account the diagonal not exceeding 10 inches.
Sensor
All modern devices are equipped with touch screens. The sensor can be capacitive or resistive. The second type is very rare, as it has long been outdated. Although many older models can still be found, buying them is not recommended. The sensor does not always correctly respond to touch, its actions depend on the force of pressing the screen.
Capacitive devices of good quality respond instantly to pressing, regardless of the applied force. They are equipped with a multi-touch function, that is, they recognize several clicks at the same time. To surf the Internet and use the tablet as a multimedia player, two simultaneous clicks are enough. The optimal number of simultaneous touches is 5-10 if you want to play games.
CPU
If you want to keep your tablet running smoothly, then a powerful processor is a must. The chipset affects whether the device can cope with the launch and normal operation of demanding programs, games, etc. When choosing a good gaming tablet, look at the number of cores and processor speed. To play average quality and good games, choose models with at least 4-core processors and a frequency of 1.6 GHz. You will definitely avoid disappointment if you check the performance of the processor with special benchmarks, such as Antutu, and compare it with other chipsets. You can find the test results online. The most popular and productive processors:
- Intel Atom x7 1600 MHz
- Samsung Exynos 1600 MHz
- Apple A9X
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 1800 MHz
- HiSilicon Kirin 930 2000 MHz
- MediaTek MT8165 1700 MHz
video accelerator
When choosing a tablet in relation to price and quality, be sure to check which graphics adapter is installed in the device. While the main processor is responsible for the performance of the device as a whole, the video accelerator refers to the processing of graphic data. This is especially important for those who buy a tablet for gaming purposes. Video accelerators have proven themselves well: Tegra 3, Mali (T760 MP8, T860 MP2), Adreno (405, 330).
Memory
The device memory is divided into internal and operational. Internal memory is designed to store various data, both user and system. Even if you purchase a micro-SD card, you still need free space in the storage to install applications, etc. Reviews of tablets on the forums indicate that the internal memory should be at least 8 GB. In this case, part of this volume will be occupied by the operating system. It is best to look at models with 16 GB or more.
As for RAM, it is necessary for the speed of programs and the system as a whole. On the cheapest tablets, you can see RAM in the amount of 512 MB or 1 GB. It is worth noting that this figure is unacceptable if you want to play games, watch widescreen videos, and more. The tablet will simply “slow down”, fail to cope with tasks, give errors, not to mention the lack of a multitasking mode of operation. RAM should be at least 2 GB to perform normal tasks and 3-4 GB to run very powerful modern toys.
Camera
The camera is one of the weakest points of almost every tablet model. Only in the products of some manufacturers can you find high-quality camera modules that provide good photo and video shooting. In other cases, you will have to be content with 8 megapixels of the main camera and 2-5 megapixels of the front one. Such indicators of the main camera provide the ability to shoot acceptable photos and videos. The presence of the front module allows you to communicate using video. The low performance of the device's camera is due to the inconvenience during video and photo shooting. Despite this, manufacturers will improve their gadgets and today for a higher price you can buy the best tablet with a good camera.
Battery
A weak battery is a significant drawback of the gadget, because in this case it will have to be kept on the charger all the time. If in the medium activity mode the devices hold a charge even a little longer, then during the game or video playback it lasts for a couple of hours. Which tablet is better to choose in terms of battery capacity depends on the size and performance of the model.
In budget devices with a small diagonal, you can find parameters of 3000-4000 mAh. For higher quality devices, 7000 mAh or more is considered normal capacity. The tablet is quickly discharged mainly due to the operation of the display - it consumes the most energy. Then comes the hardware component. To comfortably work with the device, choose models with a battery capacity of 5000 mAh.
In general, it is worth noting that even flagship models have problems with autonomy. Ideally, you want to optimize the operation of the gadget in active mode and while waiting. To save battery power yourself, it is recommended to turn off unnecessary functions, reduce screen brightness, etc.
Connection
Without the presence of wireless network modules, the tablet ceases to be useful and functional. Every device is now equipped with Wi-Fi technology, but since the coverage area is not everywhere, it has become simply impossible to imagine a modern high-quality tablet without a 4G or 3G module. This criterion is important for those who constantly like to be on the Internet without any boundaries, because the coverage area of modern GSM networks is almost unlimited.
If you have a GPS device, you can transform it into a navigation system: plot routes, track the location of various objects, and so on. According to expert advice, a GPS-enabled tablet is best suited for taxi work, as it makes it easy to use the tablet as a navigator. If you plan to use the device only at home, then this option is not so important.
Which company is better to choose a tablet
There are a lot of tablet companies, including Chinese ones. For an inexperienced user, this greatly complicates the choice. Which company is better to choose a tablet depends on the preferred price segment of the performance indicators that you need. In the budget and medium categories, manufacturers Prestigio, Huawei, Acer, Lenovo, Chuwi have proven themselves well. Among the expensive models, it is worth highlighting Apple, Samsung, Asus, HP. Many companies are engaged in the manufacture of models of different cost.
Rating of the best tablets of 2017
If you have already decided on the functions you need and still do not know which tablet to choose in terms of price and quality, then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best tablets priced at 10,000 - 20,000 rubles, which was compiled by our experts based on positive reviews from thematic forums. This list includes the most purchased devices of 2017.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 SM-T713 Wi-Fi 32Gb
- Lenovo Tab 3 Plus 8703X 16Gb
- ASUS Transformer Book T101HA 4Gb 64Gb dock
- Huawei MediaPad M3 8.4 32Gb LTE
- Acer Aspire Switch 10E z8300 4Gb 64Gb
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 SM-T580 16Gb
- Huawei Mediapad T2 7.0 Pro LTE 16Gb
- Xiaomi MiPad 2 64Gb
- Xiaomi MiPad 16GB
- Prestigio MultiPad PMT3118
Conclusion
A smartphone is not just a phone that was created only to receive and make calls. No, a smartphone is a pocket computer, which for many users has replaced a more familiar PC or laptop. Therefore, the choice of a smartphone should be approached as responsibly as possible so as not to regret the perfect purchase. After all, smartphones cost money, and often a lot of money. Today we will talk about what to look for when buying an inexpensive device.
I would like to immediately note that the ideal smartphone has not been invented and is unlikely to ever be invented, because each person has his own requirements. Therefore, manufacturers are releasing various smartphones in order to reach as large an audience as possible.
So, let's begin.
Screen diagonal
Why do we start the discussion with the diagonal of the screen? It's simple - the larger the diagonal of the screen, the larger the size of the device. The first smartphones familiar to us had a small screen size and, say, 5-inch devices were perceived as real “shovels”. But take a look around - today, many companies that produce 5-inch smartphones are adding the Mini prefix to them!
So. The larger the screen, the less comfortable the device is in the hand. This is especially true for girls, so when choosing, we strongly recommend holding the device in your hand. A large screen is, of course, a blessing, but if such a device constantly falls out of your hands, think carefully about whether it is worth buying it? Perhaps it makes sense to sacrifice screen size in favor of convenience. In addition, the screen size has little effect on the cost of the device as a whole.
Display
We decided on the size, now let's look at the characteristics of the display.
Probably the first thing you should pay attention to is the resolution of the device. In theory, the higher it is, the better. For example, on a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels), you will not see pixels even if you really want to. But if this is a 5.5-inch phablet with a resolution of 960 × 540 pixels, it will be uncomfortable to use such a device - all because of the same conspicuous pixels.
As for technologies, for example, ISP or AMOLED, everything here depends solely on the preferences of the buyer. So, AMOLED usually has brighter colors, while ISPs have less bright colors, although the same AMOLED, due to its features, saves battery power when watching videos.
Note that there are many low-cost devices with a high-quality matrix and high screen resolution on the market now.
Operating system
Everything is simple here. Currently, three main operating systems are used: Android, to which our site is dedicated, iOS and Windows Mobile. Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, which is why it is used on most modern smartphones. Although it may look different depending on the type of firmware.
If you buy an iPhone, then in any case you will use iOS, since Apple does not use other OSes on its mobile devices.
Windows Mobile is not so common, although it has its fans.
Since our site is dedicated to the Android OS, we, of course, stand for it with our hands and feet.
CPU
It would seem that the more powerful the processor, the better, but it is not. For example, you are not a fan of games, so why do you need the most sophisticated processor? Some average option is enough, which copes with all applications without any problems and without any brakes. There will be significant savings. Moreover, do not forget that we choose a good, but not expensive smartphone.
We will not indicate specific processor models, since at the time of reading this material they may well be outdated. The main thing to remember is not to chase power, because a powerful processor, especially with a high-resolution screen, can also negatively affect battery discharge.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
As for RAM, today 2-3 GB of RAM is the norm, although future flagships promise to provide 8 and even 16 RAM! 1 GB is most often not enough, but 2-3 GB is quite enough, although the number of gigabytes does not at all indicate the speed of the system as a whole, since system optimization plays a big role. This means that before buying a device, you should definitely hold it in your hands, run several applications and see how it works. There are lags and friezes? Perhaps the system is not optimized enough and these lags can interfere with you. However, such an option is also possible, when the problem will be completely solved with the next software update.
main memory
It all depends solely on how you use the device. Do you download videos, music, like games that weigh several gigabytes? Then choose a device with as much memory as possible (64 or even 128 GB). Do you use your smartphone except for photos and a few songs? It seems that 16 GB of memory will be enough for you.
The good news is that in most smartphones you can insert a memory card, expanding the total memory. By the way, we recommend that you pay attention to this without buying it - not all smartphones have a slot for a memory card, which can backfire unpleasantly in the future.
Camera
Often the camera is chosen by the number of megapixels - they say, the more the better. This is a fundamentally false statement, since the quality of photographs depends on many factors, including the quality of optics and software. Therefore, it is better to look at the photos for the selected device on thematic forums. Why not in reviews? The reviews often feature photographs that are not always possible to obtain in real conditions.
In terms of camera resolution, 8- and 13-megapixel cameras are the most common today. Again, this number often means nothing.
Battery
Unlike the number of megapixels, the battery should be as large as possible. 2000 mAh is not enough by modern standards, but it all depends on the data of the device. Ideally - 3000-4000 mAh. But, again, in the absence of optimization, the smartphone can “eat” these 3000 mAh for half a day of casual use. Real information about the time of work should be read in the reviews.
Additional functions
Some manufacturers bribe future smartphone owners with additional features. For example, could you imagine a fingerprint scanner on the "state employees" a few years ago? Today please. Another question is whether you need these features.
Appearance
There is nothing special to write about the appearance - it all depends on the taste of the buyer. However, we note that if a few years ago no premium materials were used in inexpensive smartphones, today even budget devices began to receive a metal case. Agree, is it good?
Here are some current offers - high-quality budget smartphones:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
A laptop is not cheap equipment, so they approach its purchase responsibly. But even in this case, there is a high risk of buying not what you need. Giving a lot of money, the buyer can buy a car that is too weak. Or, on the contrary, he bypasses cheap models, although in fact they have good parameters.
In this article, you will learn how to choose an inexpensive but good laptop. We provide tips, tricks and personal observations to help the buyer choose a decent computer that suits his budget and needs. You make sure the laptops budgetary- not necessarily bad.
Where to start choosing a laptop?
Before considering power device, decide what you need it for. The diagonal of the display and, accordingly, the size of the laptop will depend on this. Consider how and where you plan to use your computer. Will he be on the table all the time, or do you always plan to take him to important meetings? What kind of activity are you doing?
So, cars with different diagonals have different purposes:
Each such segment has its own nuances of choice. It is important to choose slowly, having understood all the subtleties.
Budget netbooks
These are the cheapest laptops on the market. Modern devices for browsing the Internet are tablets with a physical keyboard. The most important parameter of such models is not performance, but battery life. Good netbooks work on one battery charge for at least 6-8 hours.
Also pay attention to the display technology. Quality have IPS matrix, the preferred resolution is at least 1366x768 dpi. The brightness of the screen must be good so that it is readable on a sunny day. Well, if the model supports the multitouch function. Asus Transformer, HP Stream and Lenovo IdeaPad - these are the best laptops in the segment: price, quality and design confirm this.
Budget laptops for the office
Unlike games, most office applications undemanding to resources computer. For business and business correspondence, 4 GB of RAM and a dual-core processor with a frequency of 2 GHz are enough. Do not overpay for a large hard drive and a powerful video card - they are unlikely to be useful in work. Asus Zenbook, Acer Aspire V3 and HP ProBook 430 have established themselves in the segment.
Inexpensive gaming laptops
A good computer for video games should be powerful by parameters. Of the processors, the Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 line has proven itself. Nvidia video cards must be gaming - with a second ordinal number in the marking of at least 4. Physical and RAM for games has a secondary role. Good options for gaming machines are the Asus Zenbook UX and the Dell Alienware 13.
Premium laptops
These include Apple products. Models for home and office start at 80 thousand rubles - these are MacBook and MacBook Air. Advanced model for games - MacBook Pro. Appliance Apple has a stylish design, it is reliable and durable. At an affordable price, you can only pick up a used MacBook. Here everyone decides for himself what is more expensive for him - the image or the affordable price.
Buying products of this company, you overpay for the brand. Although, the drawing of an apple on the lid may be more important for someone than power.
Andrey Lyskov
Inexpensive laptops for home
The top laptops for home use are represented by models up to 25 thousand rubles. They are convenient for watching movies, listening to music and surfing the Internet. Such a device is unlikely to handle resource-intensive games, and besides, its ergonomics are not the best. If you want to save money on a home computer, buy models without a pre-installed operating system - this way you can save 20-30% of the budget.
Manufacturer selection
Budget laptops are produced by several established brands:
But besides them, there are a number of Chinese manufacturers. In terms of price and quality, Asus products have proven themselves. This Taiwanese brand offers laptops with good performance, stylish design and build quality. Toshiba computers will cost a little more.
If the budget is very limited, you can buy one of the Lenovo or Acer models. Even the cheapest model from a well-known brand entitles you to maintenance. You can always find instructions, software updates, other important information from a trusted source, which can not be said about the products of little-known companies.
Do not take the products of the Chinese "noname" - the risk of buying low-quality goods is too high. If such a laptop breaks, you are unlikely to find spare parts for it.
What parameters are taken into account when choosing
It is also worth choosing depending on the intensity of use of the device. If it's a workhorse, pay attention to case materials and build quality. Otherwise, from frequent use, the laptop will fall apart. You can find out how a particular model behaves in practice from customer reviews. If the machine is used infrequently, you can save on the quality of the finish.
The Difficulties of Buying a Good Budget Laptop
Progress does not stand still, new models of computers come out all the time. Also, the requirements for programs and sites are increasing, which requires more and more resources. In this regard, it is impossible to offer the only correct option. A good-looking laptop will become hopelessly obsolete in two years. But there is a way out of this situation - continuous search and comparison is important.
You can’t just focus on price, design, or only on the parameters of a computer, just as you can’t just trust reviews on the Internet. No matter how the electronics market changes, there is a way out - it is important to learn how to choose equipment, taking into account all the factors in the complex. For example, not only by reading positive reviews, but also by trying the laptop at work personally.
The laptop is bought: what's next?
The owner largely depends on how well the computer will work.
The operation of a computer will be flawless if it is clean regularly from the accumulated software garbage. In addition, you must have a good antivirus installed. Regularly check the system for errors and fix them. If you cannot do it yourself, please contact the service center. It is also important to keep your laptop clean. Otherwise, it will overheat and fail. So, it's not enough just to buy a computer - it needs regular care.
How to choose the right laptop: conclusions
To choose a powerful and affordable computer, take a look at the main technologies that are used in their manufacture. It is also worth paying attention to brands and the situation in the market. All this will allow you not only to blindly listen to the persuasions of sellers, but to independently choose a good laptop. Also, when choosing, be guided not by colorful advertising, but by your needs and reviews of real customers. Only in this way you will not overpay for extra functionality, but get a really worthwhile tool.
