Computers, Tablets & Gaming

Both Laptops and Tablets are designed for a portable computer experience. Each has its own advantages that will appeal to different situations.

In general, Tablets offer a more portable experience. They are a handheld computer with a touchscreen to replicate the mouse and keyboard inputs on a traditional PC. In terms of how they are used, Tablets are more like a Mobile Phone with a big screen than they are like a more compact Laptop. They tend to be used for general internet browsing, streaming video, playing games and reading, although a specialised Keyboard attachment can help turn them into portable word processors.

Laptops are less portable but are used much more like a traditional Desktop PC. They have access to wider range of feature rich software and tend to be better suited to more intensive work and study, particularly when a lot of typing is involved.

2-in-1 Laptops can be used as both a laptop and tablet, with a foldable or detachable keyboard and touchscreen offering the best of both worlds.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is used for short-term storage and is one of the most vital components in your computer. RAM is utilised running different apps and software. Having more RAM will let a Computer multitask or run more intensive programs and games without slowing down.

The amount of RAM you need in a PC will vary significantly depending on what you want to be able to do on it. For basic tasks such as word processing, watching streamed video or general internet browsing, you will want at least 8GB RAM. Around 16GB of RAM will let you have multiple browser tabs open whilst you use Adobe programs or play games. Creative professionals and more serious gamers may want 32GB or more.

If you have specific games you want to play or software you want to run, it is worth checking the minimum and recommended system requirements. This will include information about RAM requirements under ‘memory’ to make sure you get a computer with enough.

Deciding between a Gaming Monitor and a TV used to be more straightforward: if you were playing on a PC you’d get a Monitor and if you were playing on a Console you’d get a TV. Nowadays a Gaming Monitor and a TV both have different advantages, depending on how and what you want to play.

Resolution describes the number of pixels on screen that are used to produce the image. The more pixels used on screen, the clearer and more detailed the image. Higher resolutions will also be more demanding on Gaming Hardware and may require a reduction in frame rate to compensate. Some monitors can achieve extremely high frame rates up to 360Hz at 1080p, which is great for fast-paced gaming. Some modern Gaming Ready TVs can display 4K games with a 120Hz or variable refresh rate.

The latest Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles both support 1080p, 4K and 8K outputs at up to 120Hz. This will require a display with HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 ports and the games being played also need to support this.
 

Before buying a Gaming Laptop, it's worth thinking about the types of games you play and whether you value a high refresh rate or ultra high resolutions. A high resolution image will look clearer and more detailed, whereas a high refresh rate will ensure smooth, stable gaming performance at high speed. The fastest displays in Gaming Laptops can reach 360Hz but will only be able to output at a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. If you want to game in 4K, you will need to settle for a lower refresh rate.

Graphics cards (GPUs) and RAM are also valuable for Gaming, but most games will be dependent on your GPU. Whereas most Gaming Laptops will let you upgrade RAM, you won’t be able to upgrade the GPU, so it is worth prioritising the GPU over the RAM initially. Dedicated AMD and Nvidia GPUs will allow playing of most games on great settings, and we suggest aiming for at least 16GB of RAM initially.

It is worth checking the minimum and recommended technical specifications of any games you want to play before comparing Gaming Laptops.