Choosing Tech That Lasts Five Years
How to buy laptops and phones you won't want to replace next year.
By Ravi Menon · 6 min read
Buy for support, not for specs
The number that determines a device's useful life is how many years it receives security and OS updates. A faster processor is irrelevant once support ends.
Check the manufacturer's stated support window before comparing anything else.
Spend on the parts you cannot change
Memory, screen, and battery capacity are usually fixed for life; storage can often be extended externally. Overspend slightly on RAM and the display, and save on everything replaceable.
Repairability matters too: a device with an affordable battery replacement lasts two years longer for very little money.
Then use it properly
Keep batteries between twenty and eighty percent when convenient, install updates, and clear space before performance suffers. Basic care is worth more than the next upgrade cycle.
The greenest and cheapest device is almost always the one you already own.