After years of hard work and an anxious wait for results, it’s finally happening. You’re off to university!

However you’re feeling about this first taste of independence, the preparations are probably well underway. Kitchen equipment, bed linen and stationery might already be on the list, but there’s one other thing you definitely shouldn’t forget about: a great laptop.

You may already have one lying around the house, but is it really suitable for 3+ years of studying? In most cases, the answer is a resounding no.

But in 2022, there’s more choice of laptops than ever before. How do you actually decide which one is best? There are eight key areas to consider, but finding the right device isn’t as difficult as you might think. Here’s what to look out for.

One of the easiest ways to know you’re getting the best features you should look for in a modern laptop is to find an Intel Evo badge. When you see Intel Evo branding you can be assured that the laptop manufacturers have worked alongside Intel engineers to focus on real-world performance and premium user experience. Intel Evo laptops include the latest intelligent collaboration features for better video conferencing, all day battery use, instant wake technology, fast charging, the latest connectivity standards, and even more performance with 12th-gen processors. Visit Intel.co.uk/evo to find out more and to find your new Intel Evo laptop.

When it comes to laptops, there’s simply nothing more frustrating than poor performance. Some older devices can barely load a web page or open a Word document, but modern machines do all that and so much more. These days, it’s possible to fit a powerful processor, loads of memory and a fast SSD into an incredibly thin and light laptop. Dreaming of become a YouTube star or making it big on Twitch? Now is your chance.

But according to Tech Advisor readers, another thing should be top of your wish list in a new laptop: waking quickly from sleep. It makes sense, right? There’s nothing more annoying than waiting ages to get started, especially when you have a deadline fast approaching. Luckily, there are plenty of current laptops which can have you up and running in less than a second.

The next most popular thing might surprise you: connectivity. Every laptop has built-in Wi-Fi these days, but did you know there are different versions? Choosing a device with Wi-Fi 6 or 6E means you’ll get faster download speeds and a more reliable connection. You’ll still need a strong network, but it makes things much less complicated.

One great thing about laptops is that it allows you to work from pretty much anywhere. It’s less great when they can’t last longer than a couple of hours away from the charger. We all know the struggle, but plenty of great laptops now guarantee all-day battery life. Even when you are running low, just a few minutes plugged in can often get you a few hours of extra usage.

But rather than scrambling around trying to find the right charger, almost all modern laptops use the same connector: USB-C. Not only does it work with tons of different chargers, Thunderbolt 4 certification means you can transfer data at incredibly fast speeds or connect loads of different accessories.

Pretty much the whole world shifted to Zoom calls overnight in 2020, and things are never going back to the way they were. Rather than messing around with a separate webcam or putting up with terrible image quality from your current device, why not just have a great camera built-in to your laptop? Many modern devices offer Full HD quality, alongside crystal-clear audio wherever you go.

But of course, how you look isn’t the only important thing. The laptop itself needs to look the part too, something which can’t be said for your current device. Fortunately, these days you can get a stunning, premium machine that doesn’t make any sacrifices elsewhere.

Finally, there’s the boring bit – security. Keeping your device safe is extremely important, but it can feel like such a hassle when you just want to start using it. The good news is that modern laptops have lots of extra security features built in. As long as you keep them up to date, regularly dealing with malware or viruses is a thing of the past.
So, what are these mythical laptops that excel across all eight areas? Well, there’s an easy way to find them: just look out for the Intel Evo badge. When you see the Intel Evo branding you can be assured the laptop manufacturers have worked alongside Intel engineers to deliver these extremely high standards. Intel Evo laptops include the latest intelligent collaboration features, all day battery use, instant wake technology, fast charging, the latest connectivity standards and even more performance with 12th gen processors.

Head over to intel.co.uk/evo to find out more about how Intel Evo laptops provide you that premium laptop experience with the features you need to get it all done without compromise.