Glossary of Common Smartphone and PC Hardware Terms
Spec sheets are full of abbreviations. This glossary explains the terms you will meet most often when buying a phone or laptop, and tells you which ones actually make a difference to everyday use.
Last reviewed: 27 October 2026
Displays
| Term | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| IPS LCD | Backlit panel with good viewing angles | Affordable and accurate; blacks look grey in the dark |
| AMOLED / OLED | Each pixel makes its own light | Deep blacks, vivid colour, often better outdoors |
| TN panel | Older LCD type | Poor viewing angles; avoid on laptops |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | How many times per second the screen updates | 90–120 Hz makes scrolling smoother |
| Nits | Brightness unit | Higher is easier to read in sunlight |
| FHD / 1080p | 1920 × 1080 resolution | Our minimum for laptops |
Processors and graphics
| Term | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SoC / chipset | Phone processor, graphics and modem on one chip | Biggest factor in phone speed and battery life |
| Generation | Release cycle of a processor family | Newer generations are usually faster and more efficient |
| U / P / H / HX suffix | Intel laptop power classes | U = efficient, H/HX = more powerful, more heat |
| TDP | Thermal design power, in watts | Indicates heat and power use |
| iGPU / dGPU | Integrated vs dedicated graphics | dGPU only needed for gaming and heavy creative work |
| Throttling | Slowing down to reduce heat | Common in thin laptops in hot rooms |
Memory and storage
| Term | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | Short-term working memory | More RAM keeps more apps open |
| Virtual / extended RAM | Storage used as extra memory | Slower than real RAM; marketing figure |
| eMMC | Basic flash storage | Slow; found on cheap laptops and phones |
| UFS | Faster phone storage standard | Quicker app loads and updates |
| SSD (SATA) | Solid-state drive on older interface | Much faster than a hard drive |
| NVMe / PCIe SSD | SSD using a faster connection | Fastest common laptop storage |
| HDD | Mechanical hard drive | Avoid as the main drive |
Battery, charging and durability
| Term | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| mAh | Battery capacity (phones) | 5,000 mAh is common for a full day |
| Wh | Battery energy (laptops) | Better for comparing laptops; 50 Wh+ is good |
| USB-C PD | Power Delivery charging standard | Lets one charger power phones and laptops |
| IP67 / IP68 | Dust and water resistance ratings | Protects against accidental splashes and dunks, not swimming |
| Gorilla Glass / similar | Toughened cover glass | Reduces scratches; screens can still crack |
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6 / 6E / 7: newer standards are faster and handle busy networks better.
- Bluetooth 5.x: better range and lower power use for earbuds and watches.
- Dual SIM / eSIM: two numbers on one phone; eSIM support varies by network in your market.
- NFC: used for contactless payments and quick pairing where supported.
Now put the jargon to use.
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