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Which laptop processor generation is best to buy in 2026?

Q: Which laptop processor generation is best to buy in 2026?

For a refurbished Intel laptop in 2026, 8th generation is the minimum we'd recommend for most people, and 10th–12th gen if your budget allows.Why 8th gen is the lineIt was the first generation with four cores in thin laptops — a big jump in multitasking.It meets Microsoft's official Windows 11 requirements.Generation by generation4th–7th gen: fine for light work, but mostly limited to Windows 10, which no longer gets free security updates.8th–9th gen: best value today.10th gen: more efficient, and Wi-Fi 6 on many models.11th gen: much better integrated graphics (Iris Xe-class) and USB-C/Thunderbolt.12th gen: hybrid performance cores and big gains in multitasking.How to find the generationThe first digit(s) after the dash in the processor name. An i5-8350U is 8th gen; an i7-1185G7 is 11th gen.

For a refurbished Intel laptop in 2026, 8th generation is the minimum we'd recommend for most people, and 10th–12th gen if your budget allows.

Why 8th gen is the line

It was the first generation with four cores in thin laptops — a big jump in multitasking.
It meets Microsoft's official Windows 11 requirements.

Generation by generation

4th–7th gen: fine for light work, but mostly limited to Windows 10, which no longer gets free security updates.
8th–9th gen: best value today.
10th gen: more efficient, and Wi-Fi 6 on many models.
11th gen: much better integrated graphics (Iris Xe-class) and USB-C/Thunderbolt.
12th gen: hybrid performance cores and big gains in multitasking.