Which laptop?

humanracer

I would say you need at least,

8GB RAM

IPS Screen

SSD drive

Please note however there is a global shortage of silicon chips due to the high demand for tech during lockdowns. This means most laptops are overpriced at the moment.

I would go for one of these two:

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-asus-vivobook-m513ia-black-fhd-ryzen-5-4500u-8gb-ddr4-512gb-nvme-ssd-radeon-graphics-ax-bt50-win?utm_source=hotukdeals.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=hotukdeals

https://www.johnlewis.com/huawei-matebook-d-15-2020-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-processor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-15-6-fullview-display-grey-charcoal/p5097117?sku=238893349&irclickid=V3rUfhyX:xyLUR-wUx0Mo3EoUkETF-SJnWGQTg0&irgwc=1&tmcampid=99&s_afcid=af_256974

The matebook D14 is supposed to be better with a much longer battery life but impossible to find in stock at a decent price.

There is always a compromise with laptops at this price. The ASUS has poor speakers and the Matebook has a camera on the keyboard as oppossed to on top of the monitor. Pick what matters to you.

You can always wait but I read the situation won't improve until 2022.

poppellerant

The specs among the laptops seem very similar - 15.6" screens, barring the 14" ASUS Zenbook.  256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM also appear to be common factors from what you have posted.

From the laptops you have posted, I would go for the HP as the CPU is the most powerful and it is very reasonably priced.

Here is a comparison of the AMD 3500U, 3700U and Intel 1035G1, clearly showing the Intel being the fastest while using the same 15W of power.

HereToday

poppellerant said:

The specs among the laptops seem very similar - 15.6" screens, barring the 14" ASUS Zenbook.  256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM also appear to be common factors from what you have posted.

From the laptops you have posted, I would go for the HP as the CPU is the most powerful and it is very reasonably priced.

Here is a comparison of the AMD 3500U, 3700U and Intel 1035G1, clearly showing the Intel being the fastest while using the same 15W of power.

Probably best to not push the OP towards any of the laptops they have posted. CPU is only a part of the story. HP does not even have an IPS screen.

humanracer has posted some more sensible options. Ryzen 5 4500U outperforms Intel 1035G1, plus it does have an IPS screen. The HP doesn't really have a look-in.

Timalay

leapyear said:

Huawei Matebook - Model number: BohrK-WAQ9BR

• AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor.
• Quad core processor.
• 2.1GHz processor speed with a burst speed of 3.7GHz.
• 8GB RAM DDR4.
• 256GB SSD storage.
• Microsoft Windows 10.
• 15.6" screen

I have this laptop and it's awesome for the price.  The fingerprint reader built into the power button is pure genius.  The only thing that's worth mentioning is the RAM is non-upgradable.

[Deleted User]

There's a lot to be said for getting a MacBook Air/Pro. Just 2 choices really, The Air for most people for normal usage or the Pro if you need to do very intensive stuff. They will last years, and will not get bogged down with bloat and incessant updates and if you have iPhone already then its a no brainer.
If you really can't stretch to a grand then there are plenty of refurb options for less than half that.
Life is too short to be messing about with Windows machines!

poppellerant

HereToday said:

poppellerant said:

The specs among the laptops seem very similar - 15.6" screens, barring the 14" ASUS Zenbook.  256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM also appear to be common factors from what you have posted.

From the laptops you have posted, I would go for the HP as the CPU is the most powerful and it is very reasonably priced.

Here is a comparison of the AMD 3500U, 3700U and Intel 1035G1, clearly showing the Intel being the fastest while using the same 15W of power.

Probably best to not push the OP towards any of the laptops they have posted. CPU is only a part of the story. HP does not even have an IPS screen.

humanracer has posted some more sensible options. Ryzen 5 4500U outperforms Intel 1035G1, plus it does have an IPS screen. The HP doesn't really have a look-in.

It doesn't matter who posts what specs, there will always be something better.  I've picked what I feel is the best machine from the OP's list and I've no reason to believe it will underperform the rest of the machines from that same list.

poppellerant

Deleted_User said:

There's a lot to be said for getting a MacBook Air/Pro. Just 2 choices really, The Air for most people for normal usage or the Pro if you need to do very intensive stuff. They will last years, and will not get bogged down with bloat and incessant updates and if you have iPhone already then its a no brainer.
If you really can't stretch to a grand then there are plenty of refurb options for less than half that.
Life is too short to be messing about with Windows machines!

Rather than rush in with ludicrous MacBook suggestions, take the time to look at what is wanted.  When you look at the machines from the OP's list, you will probably spot one minor detail - they are all Windows machines.

HereToday

poppellerant said:

HereToday said:

poppellerant said:

The specs among the laptops seem very similar - 15.6" screens, barring the 14" ASUS Zenbook.  256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM also appear to be common factors from what you have posted.

From the laptops you have posted, I would go for the HP as the CPU is the most powerful and it is very reasonably priced.

Here is a comparison of the AMD 3500U, 3700U and Intel 1035G1, clearly showing the Intel being the fastest while using the same 15W of power.

Probably best to not push the OP towards any of the laptops they have posted. CPU is only a part of the story. HP does not even have an IPS screen.

humanracer has posted some more sensible options. Ryzen 5 4500U outperforms Intel 1035G1, plus it does have an IPS screen. The HP doesn't really have a look-in.

It doesn't matter who posts what specs, there will always be something better.  I've picked what I feel is the best machine from the OP's list and I've no reason to believe it will underperform the rest of the machines from that same list.

If there is something better then let the OP know. Don't just let them buy old stuff from two years ago. The laptops the OP posted are clearly from sites from which they are comfortable. But they are outdated. Ryzen 5 3500u is from Jan 2019. Ryzen 5 4500u from Jan 2020. People come here for guidance and the best advice they can get. They need our help. So if you know something better then you should post it.
humanracer posted better laptops for the same money.. The OP needs to understand that.
It's not about ego here. Just do your best.

HereToday

Just to highlight the a quote from the OP:

If there's a recommendation you have, I'm interested. I have a budget of £500-700. Preferably the lower end 

It's not a contest. The OP needs our recommendations. I just pointed out that humanracer's recommendations outperform the older devices in the OP post. 
If anyone has anything even better, I'm sure the OP would be interested to know. For my part, I wanted to let the OP know that the new suggestions were better than at what they looked. 

poppellerant

HereToday said:

poppellerant said:

HereToday said:

poppellerant said:

The specs among the laptops seem very similar - 15.6" screens, barring the 14" ASUS Zenbook.  256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM also appear to be common factors from what you have posted.

From the laptops you have posted, I would go for the HP as the CPU is the most powerful and it is very reasonably priced.

Here is a comparison of the AMD 3500U, 3700U and Intel 1035G1, clearly showing the Intel being the fastest while using the same 15W of power.

Probably best to not push the OP towards any of the laptops they have posted. CPU is only a part of the story. HP does not even have an IPS screen.

humanracer has posted some more sensible options. Ryzen 5 4500U outperforms Intel 1035G1, plus it does have an IPS screen. The HP doesn't really have a look-in.

It doesn't matter who posts what specs, there will always be something better.  I've picked what I feel is the best machine from the OP's list and I've no reason to believe it will underperform the rest of the machines from that same list.

If there is something better then let the OP know. Don't just let them buy old stuff from two years ago. The laptops the OP posted are clearly from sites from which they are comfortable. But they are outdated. Ryzen 5 3500u is from Jan 2019. Ryzen 5 4500u from Jan 2020. People come here for guidance and the best advice they can get. They need our help. So if you know something better then you should post it.
humanracer posted better laptops for the same money.. The OP needs to understand that.
It's not about ego here. Just do your best.

I have already helped the OP to the best of my ability by highlighting what you might call the best of a bad bunch.  There are plenty of other users who can recommend better laptops if they wish.

Nothing posted by the OP tells me they demand bleeding edge technology, including IPS displays or last week's CPU.  If the OP can save money by buying last year's technology which will do exactly what the CPU needs, I don't see the harm or problem.  This is also in keeping with this forum's rules and character.

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