If you’ve ever been to Computer Village, Lagos’ largest ICT market, you know the rules: hold your bag tight, your phone tighter, and ask the right questions, or you risk walking out with a purchase you’ll regret. When buying a laptop, for instance, the options are endless. Specs? Confusing. With so many brands available and choices to make, sometimes you just need someone who knows the streets to tell you what to buy.
So I did the asking for you. You’re welcome.
When it comes to buying a laptop, especially if you’re not loyal to a brand, it’s hard to know where to start. Should you go with HP, Dell, ASUS, Lenovo or a Mac? And about the processor? Should you get an i3, i5, or i7? How much RAM is enough? The questions never end.
So I spoke to the people who actually know: retailers, repair guys, and behind-the-counter specialists at Computer Village. I wanted to find out: for tech bros, students, office and remote workers, gamers, and everyone in between, what laptops are worth your money in 2025?
‘Light work’
If your day-to-day involves Zoom calls, Google Docs, Notion, Excel, or several open Figma tabs, you need a laptop that won’t freeze or start overheating in the middle of an important meeting.
When asked what really mattered when getting a laptop for users in this category, most merchants started with the same checklist:
- a Core i5 processor, with at least 4GB of RAM for speed and fewer problems
- a Core i3 processor if you’re mostly on Docs and web browsers
HP, Dell, and Lenovo were the top recommended brands cited for their speed, availability, and quick repair. Among HP laptops, the EliteBook and ProBook series were strong recommendations. Most merchants recommend sticking to 6th-generation processors and above, especially if you want better speed and fewer Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) issues.
What should you budget? For fairly used (UK/US-used) models, these merchants say their recommendations fall between ₦250,000 and ₦400,000, depending on the generation and condition. If you’re going for something new, Judith Asomugha of BeeLogic Communications says you should budget from ₦600,000.
Heavy-duty laptops
If you’re working with design tools like Adobe Premiere or AutoCAD, or you write code, game on weekends, or generally run multiple heavy apps at once, the laptops listed above won’t cut it. You’ll need a laptop built for performance with strong processing power, high RAM, and efficient cooling systems.
When I asked about laptops like these, merchants reeled off a list of models from HP Omen and Dell Precision to MSI and Dragonfly. However, according to Adebayo Ibrahim of GoodLand Technologies, “the best gaming laptop right now is from ASUS.”
Overall, the checklist included:
- Higher processors, from Core i7, at least 4GB RAM, and a large storage space.
- Laptops with dedicated graphics cards (NVIDIA cards). Nze, who has been selling at Computer Village since 2019, says that “NVIDIA cards help them [gaming systems] run smoothly, especially if you have gaming applications.”
What should you budget? Fairly used (UK/US-used) gaming laptops typically start from ₦600,000 according to Ibrahim, depending on the brand and condition. For new gaming systems, the budget typically starts from ₦1,000,000.
Popular doesn’t always mean powerful
A particular laptop brand was consistently left out of the merchants’ list of sturdy laptops. One thing all the merchants I spoke to agreed on is that HP is the most asked-for laptop brand in Computer Village. It’s their go-to recommendation when someone walks in and asks for a good laptop. Ibrahim points out that this may be because of the laptop’s low maintenance. According to him, changing the battery of an HP laptop would cost from ₦25,000, compared to changing a Dell laptop’s battery, which costs from ₦40,000.
But when I asked these same merchants which brands are actually more durable, many pointed to Dell and Lenovo. “HP is fashion[able] because of its structure and physical appearance. They are not rugged like Lenovo and Dell,” Emmanuel David, another merchant, says.
Merchants say that Dell and Lenovo tend to last longer under heavy use: their bodies are more compact, and the hinges hold better. But they tend to be more expensive to buy and maintain compared with other brands. Merchants also sing the praises of ASUS laptops, though it is largely less popular due to their price among other reasons.
Buying a laptop is not just about a brand or how sleek a device looks. It’s about knowing what your computing needs are and what your budget can get you. Whether you’re gaming, coding, typing, or Netflix-ing, the right laptop is out there. You just need to know what you’re looking for.
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