Laptop specifications are presented as though every number matters equally. Four things determine satisfaction and the rest is largely irrelevant for most buyers.
Memory
The single most common reason a laptop feels slow. Sixteen gigabytes is the sensible minimum for anything you intend to keep several years. Eight is adequate today and will not be.
On many machines memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded, which makes this the one decision you cannot correct later.
Storage type and size
Solid state, not mechanical, which every current machine has. Size matters less than people think if you use cloud storage, and running nearly full slows the drive, so leave headroom.
Screen
You look at it for hours. Resolution matters less than brightness and matte versus glossy, which determines whether you can use it near a window.
This is the specification most worth paying for and the one most people ignore.
Build and keyboard
A hinge that loosens, a chassis that flexes, and a keyboard you dislike will annoy you daily for years. This cannot be evaluated from a specification sheet and is the reason to try one in a shop.
What matters less than the marketing suggests
Processor model, beyond the general tier. The difference between adjacent chips is invisible for ordinary use.
Graphics, unless you play games or edit video. Integrated graphics handle everything else.
The overall advice
Buy more memory than you need now, a screen you will enjoy, and a keyboard you have touched. Spend less on the processor than the marketing suggests.