Buying Guide
10 Apr 2026
Xigox Team
The biggest laptop-buying mistake we see: paying ₹15,000 extra for an i7 to browse the web. Here's the honest guide.
The rule nobody tells you **Generation beats i-number.** An i5 12th gen comfortably outperforms an i7 8th gen. Always check the generation (the first digits after the dash: i5-1235U = 12th gen).
Who needs what - **i3 (11th gen+):** browsing, YouTube, MS Office, online classes — perfectly sufficient. Don't let anyone upsell you. - **i5:** the sweet spot — multitasking, light editing, coding, accounting software like Tally with big data files. - **i7:** video editing, heavy IDEs, serious gaming, 3D work. If you can't name the heavy software you'll run, you don't need it.
What matters more than the processor 1. **SSD** — an i3 with SSD feels faster than an i7 with HDD 2. **RAM** — 8GB minimum, 16GB if you keep 20 browser tabs open 3. **Thermals** — a throttling i7 in a thin body runs slower than a well-cooled i5
Refurbished angle An ex-corporate i5 8th gen at ₹19,000–₹24,000 is the best value in the market today — better built than any new laptop at that price.
Confused between two models? WhatsApp both spec sheets to 7499761196 and we'll give you a straight answer — even if it means telling you to buy neither.