How Often to Replace Laptop? Easy Guide

Laptops have come a long way from the bulky machines of the 1990s. Compared to 20 years ago, they are now smaller, lighter, and more reasonably priced. For one thing, you can use them anywhere because of their portability.

You can use it while working from home or at the office, or take your laptop to the couch and watch a movie after work. You can use your computer to play games while travelling, especially if there are extended periods between stops.

But How Often to Replace Laptop? Many people have difficulty deciding how much they should spend on a new laptop. It’s hard to know when to buy a new laptop because there are many factors to consider. 

On the other hand, they cannot easily upgrade the laptop to extend their lifespan. RAM and an SSD hard drive are the most critical components that need to be upgraded. Aftermarket batteries are available for most laptops, but they are not optimized and cannot be expected to perform as well as the originals.

So, How Frequently Should You Consider Purchasing a New Laptop? Well, let’s find out!

How Often to Replace Laptop?

In most circumstances, we recommend replacing your laptop every three to four years, even though laptops typically last for five years. It ensures that you will always have access to the most up-to-date technology at the most affordable price. Taking good care of your laptop will help it last longer if you use it for basic tasks (such as accessing the internet or watching movies on Netflix).

Using your laptop primarily at home will have a longer lifespan and will not need to be replaced frequently. More often, laptops exposed to the elements, such as those commonly used in damp or dusty environments and those more susceptible to damage from insects or to overheat, may require replacement.

As a result, laptops that are utilized for gaming or more demanding jobs, such as video editing, tend to have a shorter shelf life than those that aren’t. In general, however, it is safe to say that a safe approximation to our question is four years. The amount of time must pass before you can decide to purchase a new laptop to replace the one you already have.

How Often Should You Replace Your Laptop Battery?

Laptop batteries typically last between two and four years with typical use or roughly 1,000 charge cycles. Your laptop battery will need to be replaced around this time. Changing the laptop battery is unnecessary if you’re happy to use it while plugged in more often than you used to. To avoid unnecessary costs, you should remember that a qualified technician can only replace most laptop batteries.

Average Laptop Lifespan by Brand In 2022

How often should you replace your laptop battery

Average Laptop Lifespan by Brand

As technology continues to advance, laptops are becoming increasingly obsolete. As for how long a specific brand will endure, the chart below and the rest of this article will answer that question.

Most popular laptop brands are discussed, as well as battery life and average lifespans for each. Remember that most computers can survive much longer than the values listed below if they are correctly cared for.

Laptop BrandAverage Laptop SpanBattery Life
HP 3 to 5 Years10 Hours and 45 minutes
Apple4 to 7 Years12 Hours
Dell3 to 5 Years6 to 10 Hours
MSI4 To 8 Years11 Hours

Can a laptop last ten years?

Yes, without a doubt. When handled with proper care, a laptop computer has the potential to endure for more than ten years. The battery is typically the first component to fail on a laptop, and this is something that can easily replace, or the device can be used while plugged in.

Major Indicators That You May Need a New Laptop

The simplest way to determine if it’s time to replace your laptop is to search for the following signs: the more you have, the greater the likelihood that your computer is becoming obsolete and has to be replaced with a newer and better model.

#1) Frequent Lagging

If your laptop has trouble starting, it’s old. Leggy laptops can make an ordinary day a nightmare. In most cases, it’s a symptom of old age, but other potential culprits exist, such as a virus or a newly installed programmed that’s devouring your laptop’s RAM.

If your laptop is always lagging and its performance is slowly declining, it can’t keep up with new programmers’ CPU and RAM needs. If your laptop’s performance is gradually decreasing, you should replace it. Before buying a new laptop, upgrade the RAM and processor. It could enhance performance without adding costs.

Most recent computers have straightforward RAM upgrade options (additional slots for inserting it), so achieving this objective shouldn’t be difficult.

#2) Overheating Issue

One another indicator that your laptop is getting on in years. Similarly, a constantly running fan is a nuisance (if there are no other causes for it to do so). These symptoms begin to appear as the laptop ages. 

A laptop’s lifespan will be shortened even further if it becomes overheated. The only way to avoid this is to get a new one unless there is something you can do to fix it (maybe you have a lot of dust inside).

#3) OS Issue

A new laptop may be in your best interest if your operating system shows you all the signals of danger (like the Blue Screen of Death if you’re using Windows), and new upgrades are no longer possible because your machine is too old.

If you aren’t convinced that your computer’s age is to blame for the OS troubles, reinstalling it is usually the best solution. However, if the problem persists even after a new installation, it may be time to buy a new laptop.

#4) Charging Issue

Batteries do longer last as long as older laptops, which is a significant problem. After a full charge, your laptop battery can deplete in 30 minutes, which is a sign of an old laptop. If the battery is the only problem and everything else works perfectly, you can replace the battery.

#5) Insufficient Storage

Looking at the market now, even phones with 64 or 128 GB of storage would be inadequate. Check out our hard drive storage capacity chart here to know how much space your hard drive can hold.

However, it’s important to note that a lack of storage space on a mobile device might lead to severe problems. Installing additional storage or purchasing an external drive may be an option, but they are only short-term fixes, and you should look into a more permanent solution.

Is the Model Laptop Important?

When it comes to updating a laptop, make and model is critical. Old software degrades a laptop’s performance, yet the model and design still affect performance. While many things can limit your laptop’s life, you can avoid a few with frequent maintenance. Keep your computer updated to maintain its quality over time.

To run and maintain must replace the lower-end laptop budget every three to four years. Finding and installing essential supporting software gets harder beyond this timeframe, resulting in poorer performance and quality.

A solid-state drive (SSD) can increase the life of cheaper computers, but three years seems to be the average. You can extend your laptop’s life if it’s in good working order and shows no imminent hardware failure. However, this is rare with older computers.

Computers used for work tend to survive longer. More pricey ones, like Apple goods, can withstand a variety of uses. Five to seven years is their average lifespan. It’s little wonder many people buy a MacBook with its long-lasting battery and well-designed OS.

Should I Get a New Laptop or Upgrade the One I Have?

Because it is difficult to replace a laptop’s CPU or motherboard, the significant components that should upgrade are the random access memory (RAM) and the solid-state drive (SSD).

The cost-to-efficiency ratio is typically weighted in favor of purchasing a laptop as a complete replacement instead of other options. Keep in mind that the lifespan of a laptop’s battery is often far shorter than that of its different components. 

After two years, the battery will probably not be able to store the same charge as it did when it first took the device out of the box.

If your primary issue is that you can no longer use the laptop when it is not plugged into an electrical outlet, replacing the battery could provide you with the boost you need (and save you a significant amount of money).

Even though there are several things you can do to extend the life of your laptop, such as installing a fresh copy of Windows or upgrading the amount of RAM that it has, these are only stopgap measures. There will undoubtedly come a time when will require a replacement.

What Qualities Do You Look for When Purchasing a New Laptop?

In the past, we’ve provided you with a comprehensive guide on How to buy a new laptop and some short recommendations on what to look for when shopping. 

1- RAM

RAM (random access memory) is essential to maximize laptop efficiency, especially if you frequently multitask on your laptop – for example, editing images, writing word documents, and browsing the web. The faster your computer can access data and the more programmes it can execute at once, the more RAM it has. A minimum of 4 GB of RAM is required. Make sure you get at least 8GB of RAM if running a lot of high-power software.

2- Battery Life

Even if you’re only taking your laptop from your desk to bed, battery life is something to keep in mind if portability is essential to you. There is a significant discrepancy between the advertised battery life of a laptop and its actual performance. Battery life can be affected by factors such as screen brightness and the programmed you use.

Look at the battery’s Watt-hours (Wh) or milliamp-hours (mAh) rating rather than the manufacturer’s stated capacity (mAh). It’s better to have a large number than a little one.

3- Storage

You’ll need to consider the type of storage and the amount of storage. Back in the old days, hard disc drives were the most used method of data storage. Hard discs are becoming less popular as computers get thinner and lighter. Solid-state drives, on the other hand, are more prevalent among laptop users since they are more responsive, quieter, and, yes, more expensive.

4- USB 3.0 Port

If you plan to utilise external hard drives, a mouse, or a keyboard, you’ll need a laptop with USB 3.0 connections. Some modern products, such as the new MacBook Pros, do not have USB 3.0 ports. Keep this in mind before making a final decision to buy.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Purchase a New Laptop?

Of course, the answer is when Amazon has a spectacular bargain, but this may not be an option due to necessity. It is especially true if your laptop is one you need for business and it has wholly ceased working.

Consider that manufacturers frequently lower the price of their most expensive laptops after a year. The desired model may be cheaper if you’re patient enough to wait.

As time goes on, better machines with better specifications will be available for the same price. As a rule of thumb, buying early and getting precisely what you need is the ideal strategy. I hope this answers your question about How Often to Replace Laptop.

Do you have any further concerns concerning the life expectancy of your laptop parts or require assistance deciding on a replacement? Submit a question below, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.

Watch This Video Before Buying a New Laptop:

How Can You Make Your Laptop Last Longer?

You can do several things if you want to extend your laptop’s life so that you don’t have to replace it frequently. Investing in a higher-quality laptop can assist, but other options are also available.

1- Keep Your Laptop Free of Dirt and Debris:

You should frequently dust and clean your laptop to keep the cooling units from working too hard. When your computer’s components slow down or fail, it’s time to say goodbye.

2- Keep It at a Reasonable Temperature:

Computer labs are always kept at a low temperature since it extends the life of the equipment.

3- It’s Time to Get a New Battery:

The battery is to blame for a lot of things. When your battery isn’t at total capacity, it can appear as if your computer is malfunctioning.

4- Store All of Your Information in the Cloud:

Cloud storage can free up space for other processes and games if you plan on storing a lot of data.


FAQs – How Often to Replace Laptop?

Is It Cheaper to Buy a New Laptop or Replace the Screen?

If it was a brand-new laptop and the fall broke almost everything on it, you have every right to consider that pricing unfair. Including the labour expense, you shouldn’t have to pay more than $300 to replace your laptop screen. It is more likely to come in somewhere around $200.

How much does it cost to repair an HP laptop?

Repairing a laptop can often average you back $60 per hour. The lowest hourly rate is between $45 and $50, and the highest hourly rate is between $85 and 90 dollars. Obtain no-cost pricing estimates from local computer repair specialists so that you will have an accurate idea of the amount of money you should anticipate spending.

Is a 5-Year-Old Laptop Worth Repairing?

However, if your laptop is more than five years old, the cost of a laptop repair generally isn’t worth it. To avoid wasting money, discover how terrible the problem is on a laptop that is 3 or 4 years old. Consider repairing your device instead of purchasing a new one if all you require is a new battery.

.

Conclusion

Finally, replacing your laptop every four or five years is a good idea. After purchasing a new laptop, you shouldn’t worry about having a good time.

If you don’t want to upgrade, plenty of used laptops are available for students who don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest.

Although Macbooks survive longer than many Windows laptops, Thinkpads and other models can also last long. Old computers aren’t always a bad idea. Before making an update, double-check that it’s indeed essential.

Read More