Ports and connectivity
Ports decide what you can plug in without adapters: external displays, storage, peripherals and chargers.
Common connectors
- USB-A — the familiar rectangular port for mice, drives and most peripherals.
- USB-C — the modern oval connector; depending on the model it carries data, displays and charging.
- Thunderbolt — a USB-C flavour with very high bandwidth for docks and external GPUs.
- HDMI — direct connection to TVs and monitors.
- SD card reader — valuable for photographers.
How it affects your choice
Count the devices you actually attach. Two USB-C-only ports means living on a dock or hub; an HDMI port saves an adapter for presentations. Port selection cannot be upgraded later — it is fixed by the motherboard.