# Laptop recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Tech & Gaming\ **Created:** [5 September 2020 12:38 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191 "2020-09-05T12:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon28892155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon28892155](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon28892155)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 12:38 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/1 "2020-09-05T12:38:31Z")
I poured a cup of tea on my laptop and now need to buy a replacement 😬 What do people recommend? I don’t game, I use my laptop almost exclusively for work, which involves video conferencing, emailing, and using MS Office. I already have an iPad for personal use and my laptop rarely leaves my study so I’m not bothered about portability. ---
**Author:** ![tbutz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tbutz/32/95851_2.png) [@tbutz](https://community.monzo.com/u/tbutz)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 13:05 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/3 "2020-09-05T13:05:36Z")
Do you need a laptop designed to operate faster due to tea ingestion, or is that not a requirement? 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![tbutz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tbutz/32/95851_2.png) [@tbutz](https://community.monzo.com/u/tbutz)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 13:07 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/4 "2020-09-05T13:07:42Z")
Sorry, back to the question… A lot of people I know have the same level of need and are using Chromebooks rather than laptops, as a cheaper (well, sometimes!) alternative. Might be worth considering? ---
**Author:** ![desu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/desu/32/57996_2.png) [@desu](https://community.monzo.com/u/desu)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 13:16 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/6 "2020-09-05T13:16:23Z")
Used thinkpads my trusty steed for when I flee from hell at home for a few hours. Business build at a fraction of the price of a consumer laptop. [https://wiki.installgentoo.com/wiki/ThinkPad](https://wiki.installgentoo.com/wiki/ThinkPad) (Little outdated but still good) ---
**Author:** ![ravipatel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ravipatel](https://community.monzo.com/u/ravipatel)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 13:53 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/7 "2020-09-05T13:53:56Z")
I’ve had my eye on this for a while. Only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger is that I’m holding out for the new Ryzen 4 4500u models. > **[HONOR MagicBook 14 – 14 Inch Laptop w/ FullView 1080P Screen, All-Day Battery,...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/HONOR-MagicBook-14-FullView-Fingerprint/dp/B085JBXLH7)** > > Buy HONOR MagicBook 14 – 14 Inch Laptop w/ FullView 1080P Screen, All-Day Battery, 65 W Fast Charger, Fingerprint Login & Recessed Camera (AMD Ryzen 5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 10 Home) Space Gray at Amazon UK. Free delivery and return on... ---
**Author:** ![anon28892155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon28892155](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon28892155)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 13:59 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/8 "2020-09-05T13:59:37Z")
I have an iPhone. I’d like it to be be as cheap as possible, but I’m expecting it to be between £300-£400. ---
**Author:** ![anon28892155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon28892155](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon28892155)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 14:01 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/9 "2020-09-05T14:01:06Z")
> [@tbutz](#): > > Do you need a laptop designed to operate faster due to tea ingestion Awkwardly I was in the middle of a conference call with a client so had to end the session early (losing that pay) and cancel all of that day’s work 😔 ---
**Author:** ![Drew58](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/drew58/32/61892_2.png) [@Drew58](https://community.monzo.com/u/Drew58)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 14:59 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/11 "2020-09-05T14:59:57Z")
> [@Eden](#): > > £400 is a tight ask. You’re choices are basically garbage, so honestly… anything from PC world that types well enough for you. This is your opinion. I think it is possible to get a laptop for £400 - it won’t be a super powerhouse but don’t think that’s being asked for. ---
**Author:** ![o99](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/o99/32/83033_2.png) [@o99](https://community.monzo.com/u/o99)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 15:27 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/13 "2020-09-05T15:27:23Z")
@anon28892155 would you consider used/refurb or does it have to be brand new? I think you need to decide on an OS before deciding on specific laptop. If you decide on Windows I’d second @desu recommendation of ThinkPad if willing to buy used/refurb. If not, might be a bit too expensive. ---
**Author:** ![anon75400416](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@anon75400416](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon75400416)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 15:46 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/15 "2020-09-05T15:46:49Z")
this is cheap and cheerful but is a good spec and good price [https://www.amazon.co.uk/CHUWI-Herobook-Ultrabook-Playback-Supports/dp/B088WQRFK5/ref=sr\_1\_3?dchild=1&keywords=laptop+chuwi&qid=1599320769&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.co.uk/CHUWI-Herobook-Ultrabook-Playback-Supports/dp/B088WQRFK5/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=laptop+chuwi&qid=1599320769&sr=8-3) according to my IT friend ---
**Author:** ![NeilM](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/neilm/32/35614_2.png) [@NeilM](https://community.monzo.com/u/NeilM)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 15:53 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/17 "2020-09-05T15:53:32Z")
I went for the Cheapest Windows OS I could find and it was a HP and about £285(This is due to me having a desktop as well). A caveat with laptop is it doesn’t have much storage but I use google drive ---
**Author:** ![Revels](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/revels/32/120556_2.png) [@Revels](https://community.monzo.com/u/Revels)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 15:54 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/18 "2020-09-05T15:54:25Z")
I’d probably rather have an iPad and keyboard than a cheap laptop. I think it would depend what you’re doing in Office. If you’re using a lot of excel, you might want the laptop but if it’s more word related, I’d just get a keyboard for you iPad. ---
**Author:** ![Drew58](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/drew58/32/61892_2.png) [@Drew58](https://community.monzo.com/u/Drew58)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 16:08 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/19 "2020-09-05T16:08:00Z")
Does @anon28892155 want to use their personal ipad for work use? I think you would be looking at a very basic device with £400 - which might struggle with multi tasks. How much do you use PowerPoint & Excel with video conferencing? If it’s infrequent then either of the above suggestions fit the bill. If it’s a little more heavier than that then I think you may need to be looking at £450-500. ---
**Author:** ![ravipatel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ravipatel](https://community.monzo.com/u/ravipatel)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 16:08 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/20 "2020-09-05T16:08:11Z")
> [@Eden](#): > > £400 is a tight ask. You’re choices are basically garbage, so honestly… anything from PC world that types well enough for you. It depends what you mean by garbage? For £400 to £500 you’re going to get better specs (CPU, RAM, storage) than an entry level MacBook Air. The Air will have better build quality, a nicer screen, infinitely better trackpad and MacOS. And even then you can get a surprisingly nice machines for £400-£500. The Magicbook I linked to is a complete Air ripoff, by which I mean the build is very nice. ---
**Author:** ![anon28892155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon28892155](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon28892155)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 16:52 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/21 "2020-09-05T16:52:25Z")
Thanks for the replies guys. My husband has suggested this: [https://www.johnlewis.com/acer-aspire-3-laptop-intel-pentium-processor-4gb-ram-128gb-ssd-15-6-inch-black/p4869259](https://www.johnlewis.com/acer-aspire-3-laptop-intel-pentium-processor-4gb-ram-128gb-ssd-15-6-inch-black/p4869259) But I’ll take onboard your comments regarding quality and power and see if it’s worth pushing the budget to something that can give a little more. ---
**Author:** ![Brad1](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/brad1/32/54796_2.png) [@Brad1](https://community.monzo.com/u/Brad1)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 17:09 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/22 "2020-09-05T17:09:39Z")
MacBook Pro, it’s the only way to go. Lasts for years. Just swapped out my 5 year old workhorse (still functions perfectly well apart from needing a battery service) for the new 16 inch one. ---
**Author:** ![tbutz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tbutz/32/95851_2.png) [@tbutz](https://community.monzo.com/u/tbutz)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 17:30 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/23 "2020-09-05T17:30:25Z")
Macbook Pro 13inch is **£2,399** retail. The 16inch is **£2,799**. > [@anon28892155](#): > > I’d like it to be be as cheap as possible, but I’m expecting it to be between £300-£400. As the OP had a top budget of £400 they could buy _the same laptop every year_ for that price and _still_ not reach the kind of money needed for a Macbook after 5 years. Don’t get me wrong, I do like Apple products – they are well-made and fairly future-proof – but they are incredibly expensive for what you get. I am blessed with an iMac at present but should it die on me it will be a serious struggle to replace like-for-like, never mind going for the latest model! ---
**Author:** ![Brad1](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/brad1/32/54796_2.png) [@Brad1](https://community.monzo.com/u/Brad1)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 17:51 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/24 "2020-09-05T17:51:33Z")
I understand @anon28892155 may not have the cash but I was just throwing it in there, tons of affordable suggestions have been offered also. What I find with PCs is that you tend to have to replace them more often and they just don’t last as long. Its an investment. ---
**Author:** ![Revels](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/revels/32/120556_2.png) [@Revels](https://community.monzo.com/u/Revels)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 17:57 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/25 "2020-09-05T17:57:38Z")
Base MacBook with education discount is about £800 o think. Plus free AirPods. ---
**Author:** ![anon75400416](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@anon75400416](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon75400416)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2020 18:06 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191/26 "2020-09-05T18:06:36Z")
Try and get something with 8GB and 256GB SSD if you can The advice my IT friend gave me is that you’ll find even with minimal usage a 128GB SSD will run out very quickly. [Next page](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-recommendations/105191.md?page=2)