Technologies

83% of US Adults Still Choose Laptops for Work and School Over Sleek Smartphones and Tablets, CNET Survey Finds

Most US adults want faster, longer-lasting laptops, but one generation is chasing style over specs.

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%).

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).

Technologies

Google races to put Gemini at the center of Android before Apple’s AI reboot

Google is using its latest Android rollout to position Gemini as the AI layer across phones, Chrome, laptops and cars.

Google is using its latest Android rollout to make Gemini less of a chatbot and more of an operating layer across the phone, browser, car and laptop, just weeks before Apple is expected to show its own Gemini-powered Apple Intelligence reboot at WWDC.
Ahead of its Google I/O developer conference next week, the company previewed a number of Android updates, including AI-powered app automation, a smarter version of Chrome on Android, new tools for creators, a redesigned Android Auto experience, and a sweeping set of new security features.
Alphabet is counting on Gemini to help Google compete directly with OpenAI and Anthropic in the market for artificial intelligence models and services, while also serving as the AI backbone across its expansive portfolio of products, including Android. Meanwhile, Gemini is powering part of Apple’s new AI strategy, giving Google a role in the iPhone maker’s reset even as it races to prove its own version of personal AI on the phone is further along.
Sameer Samat, who oversees Google’s Android ecosystem, told CNBC that Google is rebuilding parts of Android around Gemini Intelligence to help users complete everyday tasks more easily.
“We’re transitioning from an operating system to an intelligence system,” he said.
As part of Tuesday’s announcements. Google said Gemini Intelligence will be able to move across apps, understand what’s on the screen and complete tasks that would normally require a user to jump between multiple services. That means Android is moving beyond the traditional assistant model, where users ask a question and get an answer, and acting more like an agent.
For instance, Google says Gemini can pull relevant information from Gmail, build shopping carts and book reservations. Samat gave the example of asking Gemini to look at the guest list for a barbecue, build a menu, add ingredients to an Instacart list and return for approval before checkout.
A big concern surrounding agentic AI involves software taking action on a user’s behalf without permissions. Samat said Gemini will come back to the user before completing a transaction, adding, “the human is always in the loop.”
Four months after announcing its Gemini deal with Google, Apple is under pressure to show a more capable version of Apple Intelligence, which has been a relative laggard on the market. Apple has long framed privacy, hardware integration and control of the user experience as its advantages.
Google’s Android push is designed to show it can bring AI deeper into the device experience while still giving users control over what Gemini can see, where it can act and when it needs confirmation.
The app automation features will roll out in waves, starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer, before expanding across more Android devices, including watches, cars, glasses and laptops later this year.
The company is also redesigning Android Auto around Gemini, turning the car into another major surface for its assistant. Android Auto is in more than 250 million cars, and Google says the new release includes its biggest maps update in a decade and Gemini-powered help with tasks like ordering dinner while driving.
Alphabet’s AI strategy has been embraced by Wall Street, which has pushed the company’s stock price up more than 140% in the past year, compared to Apple’s roughly 40% gain. Investors now want to see how Gemini can become more central to the products people use every day.
WATCH: Alphabet briefly tops Nvidia after report of $200 billion Anthropic cloud deal

Technologies

Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after glitch allowed some vehicles to ‘drive into standing water’

Waymo issued a voluntary recall of about 3,800 of its robotaxis to fix software issues that could allow them to drive into flooded roadways.

Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix software issues that could allow them to “drive onto a flooded roadway,” according to a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
The voluntary recall is for Waymo vehicles that use the company’s fifth and sixth generation automated driving systems (or ADS), the U.S. auto safety regulator said in the letter posted Tuesday.
Waymo autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas, were seen on camera driving onto a flooded street and stalling, requiring other drivers to navigate around them. It’s the latest example of a safety-related issue for the Alphabet-owned AV unit that’s rapidly bolstering its fleet of vehicles and entering new U.S. markets.
Waymo has drawn criticism for its vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin, and for the performance of its vehicles during widespread power outages in San Francisco in December, when robotaxis halted in traffic, causing gridlock.
The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it’s “identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways,” and opted to file a “voluntary software recall” with the NHTSA.
“Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S., and safety is our primary priority,” the company said.
Waymo added that it’s working on “additional software safeguards” and has put “mitigations” in place, limiting where its robotaxis operate during extreme weather, so that they avoid “areas where flash flooding might occur” in periods of intense rain.
WATCH: Waymo launches new autonomous system in Chinese-made vehicle

Technologies

Qualcomm tumbles 13% as semiconductor stocks retreat from historic AI-fueled surge

Semiconductor equities reversed sharply after a broad AI-driven advance, with Qualcomm suffering its worst day since 2020 amid inflation concerns and rising oil prices.

Semiconductor stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, reversing course after an extensive rally that had expanded the artificial intelligence investment theme well past Nvidia and driven the industry to unprecedented levels.

Qualcomm plunged 13% and was on track for its steepest single-day decline since 2020. Intel shed 8%, while On Semiconductor and Skyworks Solutions each lost more than 6%. The iShares Semiconductor ETF, which benchmarks the overall sector, fell 5%.

The sell-off came after a key gauge of consumer prices came in above forecasts, and as conflict in Iran pushed crude oil higher—prompting investors to shift away from riskier assets.

The preceding advance had widened the AI opportunity set beyond longtime industry leader Nvidia, which for much of the past several years had largely carried the market to new peaks on its own.

Explosive appetite for central processing units, along with the graphics processing units that power large language models, has sent chipmakers to all-time highs.

Market participants are wagering that the shift from AI model training to autonomous agents will lift demand for additional AI hardware. Among the beneficiaries are memory chip producers, which are raising prices as supply remains tight.

Micron Technology slid 6%, and Sandisk cratered 8%. Sandisk’s stock has surged more than six times over since January.