Laptop Specification Glossary

This glossary explains common laptop specification terms in plain English. It will grow as more reviews and buying guides are added.

Display Terms

Full HD (FHD) means a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is a common baseline resolution for modern 15.6-inch laptops.

Twisted Nematic (TN) is an older, cheaper type of LCD screen panel. TN screens can be perfectly usable, but they usually have weaker viewing angles and colours than better panel types.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) is a common LCD screen panel type with better viewing angles and usually better colour than TN. If two otherwise similar laptops offer TN and IPS options, the IPS version is usually preferable.

Nits measure screen brightness. A 250-nit laptop screen is usually fine indoors, while brighter screens are easier to use near windows or in bright rooms.

Wide Ultra Extended Graphics Array (WUXGA) usually means a 1920 x 1200 screen on modern laptops. It is similar to Full HD, but the 16:10 shape gives a little more vertical space for documents and web pages.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) is a display technology where pixels emit their own light. OLED screens can offer excellent contrast and deep blacks, though brightness, reflections, burn-in precautions, and battery use still vary by model.

Wide Viewing Angle (WVA) is a display description often used by Dell for panels with better viewing angles than basic budget screens. It is not as specific as a full panel type, so brightness, colour coverage, and refresh rate should still be checked.

Product Information

Product Specifications Reference (PSREF) is Lenovo's official specification database. It is useful for checking details such as memory limits, display options, ports, weight, and security features.

SO-DIMM is a small removable memory module used in many laptops. If a laptop has a SO-DIMM slot, memory may be upgradeable, though the exact limit still depends on the model.

Auto Update Expiration (AUE) is the date after which a Chromebook no longer receives normal automatic ChromeOS updates. It should be checked before buying a cheap, used, renewed, or clearance Chromebook.

Win32 app usually means a traditional Windows desktop application. A Win32 app can be built for different processor types, so the important question on Snapdragon Windows laptops is whether the app is Arm64-native or x86/x64 under emulation.

Emulation means software translation that lets an app built for one processor type run on another. On Windows on Arm, many x86/x64 desktop apps run through Microsoft's Prism emulator.

Arm64 is a processor/app architecture used by Apple Silicon Macs and Windows on Arm laptops such as Snapdragon models. Arm64-native apps should usually perform better on Arm laptops than emulated x86/x64 apps.

x86 and x64 are processor/app architectures used by most traditional Windows PCs. Many older Windows desktop apps were built for x86 or x64 and may run under emulation on Snapdragon Windows laptops.

Battery capacity is often measured in watt-hours (Wh). A higher Wh number can mean longer runtime, but real battery life also depends on screen brightness, processor load, Wi-Fi, apps, and battery age.

Core Hardware

RAM is working memory. More RAM helps with multitasking, large browser sessions, and heavier apps.

Solid-state drive (SSD) is the main storage drive in most modern laptops. SSD storage is much faster than an old mechanical hard drive and is the right storage type for a modern laptop.

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is the connection standard often used by modern laptop SSDs. Newer PCIe versions can allow faster storage, but the laptop, SSD, and workload all affect real-world speed.

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) is a storage protocol used by many fast SSDs. In normal buyer terms, an NVMe SSD should feel much quicker than an old hard drive.

Low-Power Double Data Rate 5 (LPDDR5) is a modern low-power memory type used in many thin laptops. It can be efficient and fast, but it is often soldered and may not be upgradeable.

Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) is an older memory type used by some older or low-cost laptops. It can still run everyday tasks, but it is slower and less current than DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, or LPDDR5 memory.

Graphics processing unit (GPU) is the part of a computer that handles graphics work. It matters most for gaming, 3D work, video editing, and some creative or AI software.

Video RAM (VRAM) is dedicated graphics memory used by a separate GPU. It matters for gaming, 3D work, high-resolution textures, and some creative software.

Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) is NVIDIA technology that can upscale games from a lower internal resolution to improve performance, often with optional frame generation on supported RTX GPUs and games. It can be very useful, but it depends on game support and does not replace choosing a suitably strong GPU.

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling and frame-generation technology for improving game performance in supported titles. It works across a wider range of GPUs than DLSS, but image quality and performance gains vary by game, GPU, and FSR version.

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a security feature used by Windows and other software to help protect encryption keys, sign-in details, and system security checks. TPM 2.0 is part of the normal Windows 11 requirement.

Integrated graphics means the GPU is built into the processor or system chip and shares system memory. It is fine for everyday use, video playback, and light games, but it is not ideal for demanding gaming or 3D work.

Neural processing unit (NPU) is a processor section designed for some AI-related tasks. On supported software, an NPU can run certain AI features more efficiently than using the main processor alone.

Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) is a rough measure of AI processor performance. It is useful for comparing NPUs, but it does not guarantee that every AI feature or app will run quickly.

Thunderbolt 4 is a high-speed connection usually provided through USB-C ports. It can support charging, fast external storage, docks, and external displays, depending on the laptop and accessory.

Universal Serial Bus Type-A (USB-A) is the older rectangular USB connector still used by many mice, keyboards, printers, memory sticks, and accessories.

Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) is the small reversible USB connector used by many modern laptops. The connector shape alone does not guarantee charging, display output, USB4, or Thunderbolt support.

Universal Serial Bus 4 (USB4) is a high-speed USB standard that uses USB-C and can carry data and display signals. The exact speed and features depend on the laptop, cable, and connected device.

USB 3.x is a family of faster USB standards with confusing names such as USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. The useful buyer detail is the speed, usually 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps, or 20 Gbps.

DisplayPort (DP) is a display connection standard used for external monitors. On laptops it is often carried through a USB-C port rather than a full-size DisplayPort socket.

Power Delivery (PD) is a USB-C charging standard. A USB-C port with PD support may be able to charge the laptop or power connected accessories, depending on the charger and device.

MUX switch is a gaming-laptop feature that can let the dedicated GPU connect more directly to the laptop display. It can improve game performance in some situations.