[dearchichi]

Hello. I'm on the lookout to get a laptop each for my daughter (13) and me. Use case would be video and photo editing and programming apart from general browsing and MS Office usage. Below are the specifications I could think of.

CPU: i5/Ryzen 5 or higher (I'm not sure which generation to look for)

RAM: at least 16GB DDR4/5 expandable to 32GB or more

Storage: at least 512GB SSD (NVMe/SATA)

Graphics card: RTX 3050/4GM VRAM or better

Screen size: 14" is suitable but 13" is okay too since we would use external monitors

Should:
- be reliable (5+ years of heavy use)
- be serviceable at moderate cost
- have at least 3-4 hours of battery backup
- not be delicate to handle

Could you please suggest which models I could look for? Also, would it be better to go for offline purchases (company showrooms, Chroma etc.) rather than Amazon due to chances of fraud (refurbished laptops etc.)?

Thank you.

[montsa007]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

CPU: i5/Ryzen 5 or higher (I'm not sure which generation to look for)

Look for atleast 12th Gen processors

[yedukrishnan199]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

Hello. I'm on the lookout to get a laptop each for my daughter (13) and me. Use case would be video and photo editing and programming apart from general browsing and MS Office usage...

If you are looking for a Ryzen, go for at least the 5th gen, but I would recommend the 7th gen for better performance (depending on the model), as regards Intel, at least 12th gen or above would be a good buy.

You haven't specified a budget, so I have listed quite a few options varying from under 60k to over 70k

1. Asus Vivobook Pro 15 for Creator
This is the one to go for if you want a laptop that doesn't look like a gaming laptop and has all these specs under 60k. It cost less than 58k during the sale and with it restarting tomorrow, you should get it at that price, moreover, credit card offers will sweeten the deal further.

https://www.flipkart.com/asus-vivobo...Qbtwk8001gadbg

If you want the more expensive RTX 4050 6gb graphics with 12th-gen i5 here it is:
https://www.flipkart.com/asus-intel-...QbvM3O00166UnH


2. Dell G15
This is a good choice if you want a laptop from a more reputed brand,

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09TNXY3QF/...P001SqOqQ&th=1

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0CWVKMJ74/...QbvHVB00159Qy3

https://www.flipkart.com/dell-intel-...QbvOPB001xA4zP

3. MSI Cyborg
If you don't mind a flat-out gaming laptop that looks like one, this is the one to go for. It's got Nvidia GeForce RTX4050, 6GB GDDR6, 144Hz display, a 12th gen i5 and weighs under 2 kg.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BW9L9NMM/...80017FDgX&th=1

[dearchichi]

Originally Posted by yedukrishnan199

I have listed quite a few options varying from under 60k to over 70k

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my query.

The laptops you've listed indeed meet the specifications I'd listed. I'll spend some time reviewing them.

How do you arrive at these models? Was it through an aggregator site that lets you compare various models (like versus.com)? And, so you have a favorite site for dependable reviews? I normally check PCMag and Wirecutter.

Also, do you recommend I purchase these online or at a physical store for protection (no refurbished models, better service etc.)?

Thanks.

[SilverSmoke]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

Could you please suggest which models I could look for? Also, would it be better to go for offline purchases (company showrooms, Chroma etc.) rather than Amazon due to chances of fraud (refurbished laptops etc.)?

Can look for Asus Zephyrus G16 2024.

Good laptop with good configurations & decent built quality - however a bit on higher price point. It should easily last 7-8 years.

[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

Also, do you recommend I purchase these online or at a physical store for protection (no refurbished models, better service etc.)?

Asus has exclusive stores in every city, better get their laptops from there. Usually their prices also match with online, even during online discount days.

[vandemanw]

My experience buying a refurbished laptop offline in Bangalore:
We recently decided to buy a laptop for my father (60 year old in the printing/publishing business who travels a lots, and does a lot of presentations). Requirements were that, it should be of sturdy build quality, decent battery life, decent screen, compact enough and within budget (20-25k). Since I had a great experience buying a refurbished MBP 15 inch 2015, a few years ago, decided to go down the refurbished path. (I am in the medical field, and a mac OS person, WINDOWS is unfamiliar to me)

After due research, realised the following:

1. Most refurbished laptop stores with high ratings/google reviews, are in the outskirts/ORR area. Since I live in North Bengaluru, was not practical, if I wanted to check it out in person.

2. Cashify/Nayejaisa are decent online platforms with good ratings, but since my parents stay in a different state, in case if there's a problem would be quite a hassle for return etc.

Work put in:
Narrowed down to a refurbished laptop store which has an online and offline presence in Malleswaram. Finally ended up with a mildly used Lenovo thinpad T480S, 2018 model, i7 8th gen with 14 inch full HD touch screen, 512 gb SSD, 16 gb RAM, 40wh battery life left, all ports in working condition. Father is super happy with the purchase. Paid 26,000

Had to make 3 separate visits to this shop (3 hours in bangalore traffic). The 1st time, received a defective laptop, since I didn't have the diligence to check everything out. (SD card slot not working, trackpad and track point issues, poor battery, screen burn-in issues). Got a replacement (but T480), which was functionally perfect, except that the bluetooth didnt work! (didnt take my bluetooth mouse to test at the shop). The 3rd time, ensured i spent atleast an hour, test driving the replaced laptop (T480s) for any defects. And voila! this met every requirement, and I finally was satisified with this value for money purchase.

When in the market for a refurbished laptop and don't mind buying offline:
1. Please ensure you take pendrive, bluetooth mouse, HDMI cable to check all ports and hardware. Spend an hour if necessary doing the checks
2. Connect the laptop to the internet, and use online apps to check SSD read and write speeds, check pixels. Do a battery health test (using powershell/CMD). Do not take the seller's at his word. Enough YT tutorials on how to do this.
3. If you are not able to do the above, then you are better off buying a new laptop.

Credit to the owner of the store I bought from. Was very patient, and willing to sort out problems, and replace the defective laptop as per request. Also gives a no questions asked return within 1 month, and 1 year basic warranty.

If anyone needs links to the tests I did on a refurbished laptop DM me, will share links.

[abhi3284]

Originally Posted by montsa007

It'll take an extremely skilled technician to do it without replacing the motherboard.

It seems a skilled technician he is. It was an Issue with the IC and another internal part. He was able to get it fixed and charging again. Though he did mention it was a challenging task for him and his reputation at stake. Total damage to the wallet - 2k.

[dhruvagarwal]

Originally Posted by vandemanw

Narrowed down to a refurbished laptop store which has an online and offline presence in Malleswaram. Finally ended up with a mildly used Lenovo thinpad T480S, 2018 model, i7 8th gen with 14 inch full HD touch screen, 512 gb SSD, 16 gb RAM, 40wh battery life left, all ports in working condition. Father is super happy with the purchase. Paid 26,000


If anyone needs links to the tests I did on a refurbished laptop DM me, will share links.

Am in the market for something similar and Malleswaram is ideal for me. Could you share the store name, contact details please?

Please also mention the list of tests you performed.

Thanks in advance!

[deep_bang]

Originally Posted by vandemanw

My experience buying a refurbished laptop offline in Bangalore:

This is great feedback. During covid times when I needed a device for each of my 2 kids, I got a refurbished Dell desktop and that is running great. When looking at laptops, what I realised is, business laptops are made for 10 hour working days and are very sturdy. So buying a refurbished i5 or i7 that's a few years old would be comparable in price and performance to say a new consumer grade i3 of the latest generation. While you lose the 'new'ness you get the sturdy-ness.

Another step in the same direction if your need does not require mobility is to buy a desktop which for the same compute power, will be even cheaper. Of course - this is not for your need but just putting it out here for anyone considering used/refurbished computers.

[montsa007]

Originally Posted by abhi3284

It seems a skilled technician he is. It was an Issue with the IC and another internal part. He was able to get it fixed and charging again. Though he did mention it was a challenging task for him and his reputation at stake. Total damage to the wallet - 2k.

Much better than blowing up the bank to replace the whole motherboard

[yedukrishnan199]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my query.

The laptops you've listed indeed meet the specifications I'd listed. I'll spend some time reviewing them.

How do you arrive at these models? Was it through an aggregator site that lets you compare various models (like versus.com)? And, so you have a favorite site for dependable reviews? I normally check PCMag and Wirecutter.

Also, do you recommend I purchase these online or at a physical store for protection (no refurbished models, better service etc.)?

Thanks.

I have experience with a wide range of laptops, mobile phones, and the like, and I am an avid gadget enthusiast, besides being crazy about automobiles. I use several websites to sort out the laptops I need, but mostly from online e-commerce sites, sometimes I use Smartprix.com (not the best but it can give you a picture of the models and price history). I use PCMag, CNET, Tom's Guide, Laptopguide, Techradar and quite a lot of feedback from my peers to get reviews.

If you are purchasing at a physical store, I would mostly recommend Croma (they have got great offers), Reliance Digital and so on, but Online has been my go to and haven't faced any issues so far, and if you are purchasing from Croma or Reliance Digital, I would recommend you check out their online site first for the best offers and discounts available too.

[vandemanw]

Originally Posted by dhruvagarwal

Am in the market for something similar and Malleswaram is ideal for me. Could you share the store name, contact details please? Please also mention the list of tests you performed.

Evaluating a refurbished laptop, what I did (Windows only)

1. Exterior: Before turning on the laptop, look over the laptop body for dents/scratches, missing panels or screws, worn out screws could indicate heavily repaired laptop. Hinges are notoriously faulty in many laptops. Tests the hinge properly before proceeding to next step.

2. Once on, I first test the keyboard : open a new note and test the entire keyboard for non functioning keys (including prtscreen and function keys)

3. Check each port individually. Use a pen drive, HDMI cable, headphone jack. Looks at the ports for signs of wear and tear. This is an excellent indicator of how much the laptop has been used. Play a YouTube video on the speakers, and check if they sound tinny.

4. Check the screen (after putting it on full screen). Websites like https://lcdtech.info/en/tests/dead.pixel.htm will help you do this. If touch screen, go to this web page: https://www.onlinemictest.com/touch-screen-test/

5. Go to system information and check out the specification of the laptop.

6. Check WiFi, Bluetooth functionality (Old laptops procured from IT COMPANIES sometimes have no Bluetooth or Card reader functionality despite port being available)

7. Check SSD read and write speeds. Use the CrystalDiskMark windows app. It’s a free download. Simple and straightforward to use. If possible, ask the seller for a brand new SSD. This is also a good time to check for overheating. Old laptops have thermal issues.

8. Check battery health.
Search for Command Prompt in the taskbar
Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
Type powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter
Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the report was saved
Double-click the battery-report.html file to open it in your web browser.
This document will highlight the battery cycles, maximum Wh of battery and an accurate prediction of how long the battery will last.

Bought mine from https://e-furbished.in/. Once there, ask for Mr. Sarva. He owns the store and manages the entire sales experience.

[dearchichi]

Originally Posted by vandemanw

Evaluating a refurbished laptop, what I did

Thanks for narrating your experiences WRT purchasing refurbished laptops. Since I'm in North Bangalore too, checking out this store in Malleswaram is feasible.

I bought a refurbished Lenovo T480 from my brother-in-law's company for Rs. 5000. I couldn't get an opportunity to check this out physically since the office is in Whitefield. But, I took the gamble as the source was family. It worked great for about two weeks, after which the main battery died (it's swollen, and the battery report states that it's capacity is only a tenth of the original). I now cannot use it plugged into the mains too since the video card appears to have failed (which also precludes working with an external monitor). The Lenovo service center stated that the batteries for this model are no longer manufactured, but I could try emailing their support team for any unsold pieces (that might cost Rs. 9K). I didn't want to opt for non-OEM batteries (costing Rs. 2.5K).

Do you think e-furbished, or similar stores, can help me get this to work again, even if they just get the video card fixed?

I'm also looking at buying new laptops for my daughter and me. I'm currently researching the same, which has led me to question the value proposition of going for refurbished laptops (unless it's for a EOL product or for bulk purchases). Let's assume that the new laptop costs Rs. 30K more than the refurbished alternative. If used for 5 years, this amortizes to Rs. 500 a month across that duration. Isn't this premium justified towards a device that's almost certainly superior in performance, screen quality, battery span, durability and safety and which would be used for several hours each day, on average? One can even sell the laptop after such use to further reduce the expense. I don't see the value in gambling over refurbished models given this. Let me know your views.

[vsrivatsa]

Has anyone tried the Snapdragon Elite X based Laptops?
How is the Software Compatibility etc.?
Does it make sense to look at a Snapdragon powered laptop in the near future or is it better to wait and watch for now?