Processor: We recommend an 11th, 12th, or 13th generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor or a 7000-series AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 processor.But avoid Windows laptops with less than 64 GB of flash storage-you can’t even run Windows updates on them without an external drive. We found that having flash storage (ideally an SSD, but an eMMC or UFS drive will do in a pinch) instead of a traditional hard drive dramatically improved everyday performance, even more than a faster processor or more memory.

Storage: Some cheap Windows laptops still have spinning hard drives or hybrid drives that feel unbearably slow-booting the laptop, launching apps, and browsing files take so long that you have time to sip coffee and stretch before you can do anything.