Buying a laptop is a big financial decision. While laptops have become a lot more affordable in the past decade, acquiring one with decent specs and the features you want still demands a sizeable cost. There are a lot of factors to consider, so it is advisable to research which laptops are the best for you.
Whether you are looking to replace an old laptop or purchase your first one, you will likely be overwhelmed by the number of options available. However, you can make the decision easier by narrowing your options down to a residential or a commercial laptop.
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Residential vs Commercial Laptops: At A Glance
Laptops are highly versatile machines. They can perform a wide variety of tasks ranging from simple word processing to rendering 3D models. People use laptops for many different reasons, hence why laptop manufacturers produce units that cater to different purposes.
Residential laptops, also known as consumer or normal laptops, are the most abundant in the market. They are generally cheaper and tend to have a more stylish design. On the other hand, commercial laptops or business laptops are pricier and feature a simplistic design.
Residential and commercial laptops make up the bulk of laptops in the market, but they should not be lumped together with gaming laptops. As the name suggests, gaming laptops feature a powerful graphics card that allows them to run video games smoothly.
If you do not intend to play games on your laptop, then your choice is between a residential or a commercial model. Besides pricing and chassis design, there are various specifications that separate the two laptop types: build quality, upgradability, warranty, and longevity.
Build Quality
While all laptops manufactured by reputable brands such as Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, and Apple are built with quality materials, some can still be considered sturdier than the rest. Commercial laptops, in particular, use sturdier components to better protect them from damage and wear. They often have features such as
- Spill-resistant keyboards
- Shock-resistant hard drives
- Rugged exteriors
Since commercial laptops cater to entrepreneurs who are frequently traveling, they typically have more metal in their chassis. This ensures they are not vulnerable to accidents that may take place while on the road.
Residential laptops are not built as tough. They are far from fragile, but they do not have the same level of protection that commercial laptops have. Instead of metal, the chassis of residential laptops are mostly made of plastic. This is enough to protect from mild scratches and falls, but it may be insufficient for those who always bring their machine on trips.
Upgradability and Warranty
To ensure the performance of business laptops does not degrade over time, they are designed with upgradability in mind. They may have more standardized components, which makes finding replacement parts easier. Additionally, they have more accessible and user-friendly components, such as
- Removable hard drives
- Easily accessible RAM slots
- User-upgradeable CPUs.
On the other hand, residential laptops are designed to be thin and light. To achieve this, their components are often soldered to the motherboard, making upgrades more difficult.
Another factor that makes commercial laptops easier to upgrade is the onsite warranty they come bundled with. This allows owners to have their machines repaired at home or wherever they are.
In terms of warranty, commercial laptops continue to have the upper hand. Instead of the usual one-year warranty for residential laptops, business laptops often have a three-year warranty.
Longevity
Since commercial laptops have the superior build quality, they naturally last longer than residential laptops. Their sturdier chassis affords them better protection from physical damage. The three-year warranty also ensures they will receive expert repair service for a longer time.
Software-wise, commercial laptops are also better protected. They usually come with premium security software such as automated security, helping secure the sensitive information they often store.
While residential laptops are not as durable as business laptops, it does not mean they can last as long. Depending on how the owner uses and takes care of their machine, it can remain functional as long as an expensive business laptop.
Which type of laptop is for you?
Looking at their key differences, it is easy to conclude that business laptops are the better choice. However, commercial laptops are not the best choice for everyone. The best type of laptop for you will boil down to usage, preferences, and budget.
- For casual use at home, residential laptops are better. Consumer laptops are not as tough as business laptops because they do not have to be. They are intended to be used at home and only for light computing work, making their mid-tier components sufficient.
- For entrepreneurs, commercial laptops are ideal. Business laptops are built for entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. They feature superior protection and security software to ensure the sensitive data they hold would not be lost or tampered with.
- If style is a deal breaker for you, residential laptops are the way to go. There are business laptops that are attempting to be stylish, but you will still find the most stylish machines in the consumer category.
- If you have a limited budget, consumer laptops are okay in the meantime. You do not have to be a business owner to own a commercial laptop. However, you may not be able to afford it yet. If you have a limited budget but need a reliable laptop immediately, residential laptops are good enough.
Final word
Laptop shopping does not have to be overwhelming. Once you know what you need your laptop to do, it will be easier to decide which unit to buy. Leading brands offer laptops in various operating systems available today, so your preference of OS should not make deciding more difficult.
