STACK #255 January 2026

BACK TO SCHOOL 2026

TECH FEATURE

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When you’re shopping for a laptop, it’s natural to start with the spec list: processor type, RAM, storage, and battery life. While these are important specs, they don’t tell the whole story. So, what else should you look out for? Words Scott Hocking T wo laptops can share almost identical specs yet still perform very differently. That’s because 5 laptop features that matter Looking beyond the basic specs

performance – especially during heavier workloads. It also supports long-term durability, as excess heat can strain batteries and internal components over time. Power management works in tandem with thermals. Efficient tuning helps strike the right balance between speed and battery life, giving students a device that can easily last the school day without needing a charger.

Operating System (OS) performance

The OS plays a big role in how quickly apps open, how the laptop handles background tasks, and how efficiently it uses the battery. Windows 11, for example, is designed to take advantage of newer processors and built-in NPUs. This helps it run more smoothly on modern hardware For students juggling tabs, app switching, and hopping into video calls throughout the day, an optimised OS can help the laptop stay speedy even when it’s working hard.

some of the features that shape everyday performance – and how well the device will cope with a full school workload – aren’t always obvious at first glance. Understanding what sits behind the numbers can help you choose a device that feels faster, lasts longer, and delivers better value. Let’s take a closer look at the features worth paying attention to. Why there’s more to a laptop than the basic specs A modern processor, enough RAM, and a fast SSD are a strong foundation, but they don’t reveal how well a laptop handles heat, how efficiently it uses power, how stable its Wi-Fi connection is, or what benefits you get from newer technologies like dedicated graphics or neural processing units (NPUs). These behind-the-scenes factors can change how the laptop actually feels during a busy school day – and how long it stays performing at its best. Thermals and power management Thermals are all about how effectively a laptop manages heat. It’s an area many buyers

overlook, yet it can make a huge difference. A laptop with poor cooling will heat up quickly and automatically slow itself down to protect the hardware. Even with strong specs, this can lead to sluggish performance during everyday tasks such as loading complex websites, editing photos, or switching between multiple apps and browser tabs.

Good thermal design helps the processor maintain its full speed for longer, resulting in smoother

JANUARY 2026

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