How to choose a laptop that will last five years

A good laptop should still feel quick after five years. The trick is to spend your money on the parts you can't upgrade later, and to ignore the specs that look impressive on a box but never change your day.

Prioritise the chip and memory

Modern chips are fast enough for most people, but memory is the difference between a laptop that stays smooth and one that stutters. Choose at least 16 GB if you multitask, edit photos or video, or keep dozens of browser tabs open. On many laptops the memory is soldered, so you can't add more later.

Get enough storage

256 GB is fine if you stream and use cloud storage, but 512 GB is the comfortable sweet spot for most people. External SSDs are a cheap way to add space if you need more.

• 8 GB / 256 GB - light work, browsing and streaming
• 16 GB / 512 GB - the best all-rounder for most people
• 32 GB / 1 TB - creative professionals and developers

Look at the screen and battery

You look at the screen all day, so brightness, resolution and colour accuracy matter. Battery life claims are best-case, so look for 15 hours or more if you want to leave the charger at home.