However smart your smartphone can be, you’ll still find yourself using a laptop. They are great productivity tools with software that will get you do your work perfectly well.

But buying a laptop is no simple task even for the geeks. You’ve to leap through the technical jargon down to something that will actually work for you.

So lets break it down.

Laptop types

This is where things get a little hairy. You’ll probably find laptops categorized into Notebooks, Netbooks, Ultrabooks, Tablet PC and Macbooks. The differences are minor, but all of them are portable, lightweight computing devices that can be run off battery power.

In most cases you’ll find Notebooks and Netbooks used inter-changeably. That’s because both laptop types are used for home and office work as suitable portable replacements for bulky tower desktop PCs. Notebooks have both low and high-end specs and come with several screen sizes.

Ultrabooks on the other hand are supper thin, lightweight laptops mainly suited for traveling executives. These devices have almost all-day battery lifespan making them the best productivity tools for those who are always on the go. The Macbook Air, Google Chromebook Pixel, Acer Aspire S7 are some of the common Ultrabooks in the market.

Tablet PCs are a hybrid of tablets and Laptops. They are usually tablets with dockable keyboards and other peripherals. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga, HP EliteBook Revolve 810 G3 Tablet PC are some of the Tablet PC products in the market. Now why you would want to get a Tablet PC instead of getting either a PC or Tablet is entirely up to you.

Finally Macbooks are laptops exclusively produced by Apple that run on Mac Operating System(OS) unlike the other categories that can run on either Windows or Linux OS. Macbooks have great build and design mostly crafted from metal parts, have a good keyboard, trackpad and battery. They are high-end stylish machines, but come with a hefty price tag as well.

Now whether you’ll buy a Notebook, Netbook, Ultrabook, Tablet PC or Macbook will depend on what I’ll discuss next.

Laptop brands

There are several laptop brands out there. But some of the biggest brands in the market are; Dell, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Asus, Apple, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony VAIO(RIP).

Related story: Buy laptop and desktop computers in Uganda: Here’s a complete list of vendor-certified shops

In Uganda, we are probably looking at Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Apple in the order of popularity or market share. As with other consumer electronics, user buying decisions are majorly based on brand preference, market presence and price. Personally am a fan of Asus machines, but ever since I bought myself an Acer laptop last year, am beginning to prefer Acer machines mainly because of their great battery performance.

What are your needs

Before you make final decision of the kind of laptop you wish to buy, we recommend that you consider your needs. Different people have different use cases. A graphics designer will for instance need a high-performance laptop with a great graphics card and bigger screen size.

A blogger like myself will probably consider a mid-range laptop with enough hard disk space and battery while a sales agent will need a lightweight machine with good battery performance to last them a whole day in the field.

A campus student just needs a machine to do research, assignments and write reports. That means performance isn’t much of priority as much as price is for instance.

When making a buying decision, you have to make compromises between weight, performance, battery, screen size and ultimately price. You’ll have to prioritize those things that make your life and work easier and get things done.

Screen size and weight

When purchasing a laptop, I like to look at these two things – screen size and weight. Laptop screen sizes go as low as 10 inches and as large as 17 Inch. Again it totally goes back to personal preference and needs here. Graphic designers usually like to have enough screen real estate, so they often go for 17 inch laptops. Professionals working in an office environment like to go for mid-sized screens, normally 15.6-14 inch which is where I fall.

Besides screen size, weight is another factor to consider. If you are the commuting type that carries you machine to office everyday, then you can agree with me that you’ll have to think twice about the weight of your laptop to avoid backaches. Anything less than 3kgs is good enough here. However, if you are buying a home laptop for the kids or to do your work at home or in the office, then weight isn’t much of a thing to consider here.

Technical Specs

This is where it gets a little intimidating for ordinary users. Laptop specifications keep changing but not as fast as smartphones at least.

The most important specs you should look out for when purchasing a laptop are RAM, Processor and Hard Disk Drive (HDD) memory. The bigger these specs are, the more costly a laptop is.

RAM is the memory that keeps your applications running. When you start Microsoft word for instance, the program is loaded into your computer’s RAM and its only when you hit save that your word file is saved on your computer’s hard drive. That means, the more programs you’ve open, the more RAM is needed. 2GB RAM is good enough if all you’ve open is MS word and a few tabs on Firefox. But if you’re running a heavy program like Adobe photoshop, then we are talking 4GB+.

The other thing is processor speeds. Most laptops in the market are powered by Intel Processors. Intel Pentium and Celeron processors are suited for really light work, while Dual-core processor are good enough for office work and nothing else. But you would be much comfortable with the intel core i series of processors. Intel core i3 gets the job done, but if you’re a high-end users like a software designer or graphics guy, then don’t settle for anything other than an intel core i7.

Lastly you want to consider the memory size of the laptop HDD. This is where you data sits. If you use your machine for entertainment purposes like playing music and watching movies, then hard disk space is a big deal. We are looking at 500GB+ if you are this kind of person, but if the machine is strictly for office or school work, then anything around 250GB is good enough.

Besides the big three, you’ll want to look at battery capacity, connectivity options like USB, HDMI, Ethernet, VGA ports and then Wi-Fi, Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. If you use your laptop for Skype calls, then consider Webcam and Microphone quality of the phone. If take a lot of photos with your camera, then make sure the machine has a card reader. If you backup data to DVD/CD or wish to rip and burn music, then your machine should definitely have a DVD/CD-RW reader. If you do lots of typing like myself then take a good look at the laptop keyboard and trackpad before you spend your money.

Price and availability

You can’t buy something that’s not available in the market even if you could afford it. Dell, HP, Acer, Apple Macbooks are some of the laptop brands currently in Uganda. In fact there are a number of authorized resellers for those brands in the country who can offer after-sale services such as repairs.

Also ultimately the choice of laptop you’ll buy depends on what you can afford. Dell, HP and Acer have varied pricing from as low as Ugx 700,000 to as much as Ugx 5,000,000. Apple Macbooks are notoriously known to be high-end expensive devices starting from as low as Ugx 3,000,000.

You can purchase a laptop online from Jumia Uganda, Macbooks from Elite computers, PCs from Kazinga channel, MFI solutions, Millennium computers, computer point, PC world on Equitorial among others.

David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he’s not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.

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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.

This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.

This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.

READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”

Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”

The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:

  • SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
  • Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
  • Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
  • Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.

Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.

Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]

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Be it for work or home use, if you are in search of a new printer, particularly for the first time, there are always a lot of factors to put into consideration . From printer style to printer types, features, connectivity options, display/control options (touchscreen or non-touch) etc, buying a printer could be confusing. That said, one of the most crucial decisions to be made is the type of printer to buy: Inkjet or Laser printers?

If you have a printer sitting in your home or workplace, you most likely have had to make this decision too. For the printer rookies and newbies, however, the type of printer you choose to purchase is an important conundrum that must be made so as to avoid regrets and printer problems later on. But basically, whether (or not) to go for a laser printer or the inkjet counterpart usually depends on:

  • Your printing requirement : will you be printing images? Texts? Or both?
  • Printing volume : how often or how much stuff will you be printing daily or monthly?
  • Printing budget : how long do you intend keeping your printer? How much do you intend spending on repair cost or replacement parts?

Inkjet vs Laser: Printing Material and Mechanism

One of the biggest differences between laser and inkjet printers is the material which they use to print on paper. While laser printers use toners (dry powder) , inkjet printers utilize (wet) ink to transfer texts and images to paper. From a cost and usage standpoint, both printers have their individual upsides and disadvantages.

Compared to laser printers that use (dry) toners, inkjet printers cartridges are made of ink that -wait for it- dries up easily, even when the printer is left unused. To add, the toners in laser printer usually last longer and can be used to print more pages of documents compared to an Inkjet printer.

Mechanism of action

Inkjet vs Laser - 1 Inkjet vs Laser - 2

Printing purpose

Laser Printer | HP LaserJet Pro

Paper Sizes

Inkjet Printer | Canon Pixma iP7220

Unlike laser printers, inkjet supports a wide variety of paper types and sizes. With inkjet printers, photographers and creatives (or anyone) can print high-quality images on almost all types of material; paper (textured or glossy art papers, photo papers etc.) and fabrics, too.

Price and Cost-per-Page differences

Generally, inkjet printers are cheaper than laser printers. However, there’s a catch — which a lot of buyers usually do not take into consideration before making a buying decision. And that’s the cost of cartridges. If you print equal volume of pages on both laser and inkjet printers, it would cost you more money to refill the ink of the inkjet printer than replacing the toner of the laser printer.

Also, the overall cost-per-page of inkjet printers is higher than the laser counterpart. Cost-per-page is basically how much pages a cartridge is able to print before it runs out. Toner cartridges are generally more expensive but would take longer time to replace as they can print thousands of pages before exhaustion. Ink cartridges, on the other hand, are less expensive but can only print hundreds of pages.

Conclusively, while the one-off upfront cost of a laser printer is on the high side, you would spend more on ink replacement costs for an inkjet printer. Also, it is believed that inkjet printers are cheaper because they have a minimum life span of 3 years while laser printers can be used for at least 5 years.

If you aren’t a photographer, an artist, or your job doesn’t involve printing a lot of high-quality and complex images, then you are better off with a laser printer. But before you pick up that laser printer, you should check out this printer buying guide .

Sodiq Olamide is a tech writer based in Nigeria, covering the latest reviews, how-tos, and news on consumer tech trends with a unique African perspective. Whether analyzing emerging technologies or offering practical guides, Sodiq brings a deep understanding of how technology shapes lives across the continent.

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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.

The key launches included:

  • CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
  • MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
  • MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
  • TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.

Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”

“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”

Laury Bai, TECNO CMO

Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”

James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek

CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography

TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.

Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer

The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”

Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud

The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.

TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability

To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”

Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK

Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.

MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers

The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.

World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14

Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.

TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.

Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm

In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.

The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series

TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.

TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future

Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.

Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.

Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.

With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.

Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]

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