ZDNET Picks 5 Laptop Upgrades Worth Paying For, Says 3 Features to Skip
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 19
ZDNET Picks 5 Laptop Upgrades Worth Paying For, Says 3 Features to Skip
3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 19
Summary
ZDNET’s latest buying guide says shoppers should spend extra on five laptop features that materially improve daily use: more RAM, a better display, longer battery life, dedicated GPUs for creators, and stronger cooling.
16GB of RAM is framed as the practical baseline, with 32GB recommended for heavier workloads, while brighter 1440p or 2K screens and newer efficient chips are highlighted as upgrades that improve usability and longevity.
Battery life gets special emphasis: ZDNET says processor efficiency matters as much as battery size, citing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X and one HP OmniBook 3 test that lasted nearly 28 hours on a charge.
The guide says three categories are often not worth the premium for most buyers: touchscreens on clamshell laptops, excessive high-end hardware such as 64GB RAM or flagship CPUs, and gimmicky extras like dual screens or LED effects.
The broader takeaway is to prioritize balanced value over maxed-out specs, matching upgrades to actual workloads rather than paying for features that add little real-world benefit.