Upgrading to a new laptop can feel like a never-ending rabbit hole. Even when you know what you need, choosing the best features, specs and design within your budget can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least.

Between back-to-school season and the holidays fast approaching, now’s the time to shop around for a deal on a new laptop. But what are US adults looking for when upgrading their laptops, anyway?  

CNET’s new laptop survey found that nearly half of US adults are upgrading for better speed (45%) and battery life (44%). But that’s not all. One generation is looking beyond the specs and opting for sleekness and aesthetics instead — more about that below. 

Here’s exactly what laptop owners are looking for, what experts think about the findings and what they recommend before you buy your next one. 

Over half of US adults use laptops for creating and viewing documents 

Even though smartphones and tablets are capable of letting us write essays and notes, US adults lean on smartphones for organization (66%), note-taking (48%), gaming (47%), and streaming shows and movies (44%). CNET found that laptops are used for work and educational tasks like creating and viewing documents (52%), creative work (33%), test-taking (31%) and studying (33%). Here’s a closer look.

Why not tablets instead of laptops?

David Carnoy, a CNET executive editor and tech expert, said most people have room for two primary devices, mainly a smartphone and laptop. Most don’t use a tablet for day-to-day activities or more tedious tasks. 

«Tablets have been relegated to second-tier status in terms of must-have productivity tools and are viewed by a lot of folks as entertainment devices,» said Carnoy. «We’ve been waiting for tablets to become real hybrid devices that are true laptop replacements.» 

One exception to a tablet functioning like a laptop is the Microsoft Surface Pro models that run Windows 11. However, Carnoy pointed out that they’re pricier — even before adding accessories to make the tablet work more like a laptop. 

Performance matters more than aesthetics for most US laptop owners. Laptop owners looking to upgrade aren’t motivated to upgrade for fun features like messaging upgrades and artificial intelligence capabilities. By the numbers, only 10% of US adults get a new laptop for AI capabilities, while 12% upgrade for external device support and 7% upgrade for a new color. 

Instead, nearly half of US adults are considering a new laptop for better speed (45%), while 44% want better battery life, according to the survey. Other top motivators include storage (39%) and screen quality (28%).  

Read more: I Tested AI for Its Best Laptop Picks. I’m Glad I Fact-Checked Before I Bought

One exception: Gen Z favors design and sleekness

Like most US adults, Gen Z upgrades laptops for common reasons, like battery life (55%) and storage (50%). But aesthetic elements have a special appeal to this generation. 

Gen Z is motivated to upgrade their laptops for sleekness and design appeal, such as screen quality (37%), design sleekness (25%), pen support (11%) and color options (10%). Experts pointed to a few reasons for Gen Z’s motivating factors.

Many of today’s laptop processors are powerful, so choosing the right processor has become less important compared to choosing a laptop with aesthetics that speak to you, said Matt Elliott, CNET senior editor and computer expert. 

PC Mag’s consumer personal computer expert, Matthew Buzzi, added that Gen Z liking aesthetics more than other generations could be a broader trend on the horizon because there’s a baseline for what most laptops offer, and the aesthetic and design are what set them apart. 

«Aside from enthusiasts, most shoppers don’t care about the particulars of components, and they’re all fast enough; aesthetic is part of personal identity and signals something about your lifestyle,» Buzzi said.

You may have to sacrifice a better battery for speed and performance

While 45% of US adults want to upgrade their laptop for speed improvements, 44% want better battery life. But chances are, you won’t have the best of both worlds.

Brian Westover, PC Mag’s lead personal computer analyst, said a longer battery life is the biggest advantage of a new laptop. Some systems can last 20 hours or more based on rundown tests.

Ideally, you don’t want to sacrifice your battery life for the best speed and performance. But if you have to choose, Westover recommends aiming for as much RAM as possible so you can multitask faster. Usually, you won’t be able to upgrade RAM. Westover recommends a minimum of 16GB to 32GB. 

Elliott agrees that battery life and performance are often in conflict. More powerful processors deliver speedier performance, but at the expense of a shorter battery life. Efficient processors aren’t as fast but have a longer battery life. If you’re looking for an efficient processor and battery, Elliott recommends MacBooks with an M4 processor. And Windows with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors offers the best battery life. 

HP is the most popular laptop brand

The most popular brand is HP, especially for millennials, Gen X and baby boomers. Beyond HP, Apple follows closely behind at 22%, which is a popular pick for Gen Z. US adults also own Dell (18%) and Lenovo (12%). 

Elliott likes that HP is a style-conscious quality brand. However, it’s mind-blowing that more people have an HP than Lenovo because it’s the leader in overall shipments, Elliott said. Overall, HP is a solid laptop brand choice and one worth considering depending on your needs.

Read more: Best HP Laptop for 2025

If you’re looking for a high-performing HP laptop, consider one with an Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processor. an AMD Ryzen 9 AI 300 series chip or a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU, Elliott said. You’ll also want at least 16GB of RAM and high-definition 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution for clear text and images, but HP offers higher resolutions if you want more. Other specifications vary based on your preference, including size and storage space. 

When choosing an HP laptop, Elliott recommends paying attention to the differences between its OmniBook and EliteBook models. OmniBooks are more consumer-focused, while EliteBooks are more for business needs. For a midrange HP laptop, prepare to spend at least $1,000. 

Which laptop should you buy? 

Choosing the right laptop for now and the foreseeable future can be tough. Beyond price and a design you’ll like, there are dozens of other specs and features to consider. Here are some buying tips from our experts. 

Operating system

The operating system is usually the first decision people make when choosing a new laptop, said Elliott. It ultimately boils down to personal preference. Windows is known for business needs, while Mac’s operating system is more geared toward creativity. You’ll also want to consider software you already use, like Windows Office. Other factors to weigh include your display preference, since the look and feel between the two is different. 

You can run Windows from your Mac if you like Mac’s features but prefer Windows’ operating system. 

Performance 

One concern is not having enough or having too much performance, Buzzi said.

«It’s fairly easy to spend too much on a system with more power than you need for basic computing tasks, though at least it will future-proof your purchase to an extent,» Buzzi said. It could be a waste of money to have a high-performing laptop but not use it to its full potential. 

On the other hand, nothing would be more disappointing than firing up a brand new laptop and discovering it doesn’t have enough power for your needs, Buzzi added.

Buzzi recommends reading reviews and buying guides to learn about specifications to look for that depend on your use case. It can also help you gauge a laptop’s speed and make a more informed decision. 

Size

Nearly one in four US adults upgrade their laptops for size. It can boil down to preference if you want a bigger display size, but beware of the size and weight if you’re traveling with it. 

Avoid buying a laptop that’s heavier than your books to carry around campus if you’re purchasing one for school. Westover recommends one that weighs three and a half pounds or less, and usually a maximum size of 14 inches. 

«For students, I would suggest a smaller and lighter laptop with long battery life. You want something that won’t feel like an anchor in your backpack or won’t need to be recharged every time you turn around,» said Elliott. 

Read more: Best Lightweight Laptop for 2025

Memory and storage 

Ideally, you’ll need a laptop with a lot of RAM, or memory, plus plenty of storage, said Westover. Experts recommend at least 16GB of RAM, and even more if you have the option to upgrade your memory you can. 

But upgrading memory is less common than adding storage, You can expand your storage with an external hard drive. Your storage needs will depend on your tasks, but experts recommend a minimum of 256GB. 

Methodology 

CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,601 adults, of whom 2,145 own a laptop. Fieldwork was undertaken between July 16-18, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 plus).

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle has some complex answers to find, and they’re tough to unscramble, too. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. 

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Spitting image

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Twins

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

• DATE, LIME, LIMES, PLACE, PLACES, CHAT, LACE, LACES, FACE, FACES, LOOK, COPY, CORE, THAT, SIMILE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

• DOUBLE, REPLICA, DUPLICATE, FACSIMILE, LOOKALIKE

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is COPYTHAT. To find it, look for the C that’s four letters down on the far-left row, and wind across and then down.

Quick tips for Strands

#1: To get more clue words, see if you can tweak the words you’ve already found, by adding an «S» or other variants. And if you find a word like WILL, see if other letters are close enough to help you make SILL, or BILL.

#2: Once you get one theme word, look at the puzzle to see if you can spot other related words.

#3: If you’ve been given the letters for a theme word, but can’t figure it out, guess three more clue words, and the puzzle will light up each letter in order, revealing the word.

There are plenty of smartwatch options out there for people hoping to keep an eye on their fitness. While you can certainly go big with something like an Apple Watch, budget can often be a huge factor.

Well, right now you can get your hands on the Fitbit Versa 4 while it’s 25% off. This is a great discount, and brings it down to just $150 in three different colors. However, this is a limited-time deal, which means it’s not going to be at this price for long.

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a slim smartwatch with features including a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking and more. It’s a smartwatch that doesn’t break the bank and right now it’s available with a $50 discount that takes the usual $200 price down to just $150. You don’t need to enter any discount codes or clip any coupons, and you can choose between the black, blue and copper rose colors before adding your new smartwatch to your cart. Best Buy is matching the pricing.

Buyers of the Fitbit Versa 4 can look forward to GPS-powered workout features as well as a 24/7 heart rate monitor and sleep tracking. Your Fitbit will show your daily stress management score, how much oxygen is in your blood and a whole lot more. And it’ll do it all in a shape and size that looks great while staying out of the way whether you’re working out or actually working at work.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Each Fitbit 4 comes with a free six-month Fitbit Premium membership with personalized analytics and insights based on your data, although you’ll have to start paying once that period is up. Still, the trial could be a great way to get a feel for how useful you find that information before you have to pay extra.

Note that Amazon hasn’t said how long we can expect this special price to hang around, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on picking up this smartwatch with this discount. Don’t worry too much if you do miss out though, our list of the best Fitbit deals is sure to have something for everyone.

Why this deal matters

The Fitbit Versa 4 is pricey, but this discount helps take the edge off. With over 40 exercise modes, built-in GPS and tracking for just about everything, it’s a great pick for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts alike. But hurry — we don’t know how long this deal will last.