How Often Should You Replace Your Laptop?

How Often Should You Replace Your Laptop

Most laptops last 5-6 years. However, for a better performance, it is suggested to replace your laptop every 3-4 years.

These answer are based on RESEARCH which includes personal surveys and analysing hundreds of user generated reviews and opinions. [You can check a few of those screenshots in later sections of this article]

However, I would still say, an honest answer to these questions:

  • How often should your replace laptops? 
  • How long do computers last?

is “IT DEPENDS!”

If you are wondering WHY, I explained it in this guide.

Along with that, here are few other things I covered in this article:

  • Factors that affect longevity of your laptop
  • When to upgrade your laptop?
  • Signs that you should replace your laptop
  • Average lifespan of popular laptops

Keep on reading!

Factors That Affect Longevity of Your Laptop

The longevity of your laptop will depend mostly on:

  • Semi-fact: What is used for – using it for basic stuff will allow you to use it longer, but laptops for gaming and video editing won’t last as long due to the new programs;
  • Semi-fact: How you maintain it – system updates and removing the dust and debris is a must;
  • Semi-fact: Laptop price and quality of peripherals: Budget models can be used on average for 3 years, while the high-quality models can last for 5 years.

I mentioned earlier, the number based answer for the question “When to replace your laptop” is not a STANDARD one and depends on both laptop usage and make.

However, every laptop user can decide for themselves on when to replace or upgrade their laptop based on these following standard SIGNS.

12 Major Signs To Replace Your Laptop?

The more signs you can identify, the more likely you need to update to a new device.

  1. Frequent lagging with regular usage
  2. Your computer’s fans are getting noisy;
  3. Applications take a long time to load;
  4. The computer has multitasking issues
  5. Functionality Issues (frequent shutdowns);
  6. Operating system issues;
  7. charging /battery issues;
  8. Storage space;
  9. Overheating;
  10. Display problems.
  11. Startup and shutdown are slow
  12. It would be cheaper to replace than to repair;

Should I replace the laptop or upgrade it?

It all comes down to:

  • whether a new device would be more expensive than upgrading;
  • whether the upgrade will have any effect on your current laptop.

If the answer is no, get yourself a new laptop.

When it comes to upgrading, the two most common components that can be upgraded are the RAM and the SSD (or HDD). The motherboard and CPU can’t undergo such upgrading. (atleast for normal users)

You can also replace your battery if it doesn’t hold the same amount of battery power as it did in the beginning. That will save you a lot of money and get your laptop back on track.

However, other components are difficult and more expensive to replace. On top of that, there might be compatibility issues with the motherboard. Upgrading your RAM won’t sometimes help, as older laptops will limit the number of upgrades.

How to lengthen the life of your laptop?

Buying a new laptop would undoubtedly help, but you can take a few precautionary steps to ensure that your laptop will last longer:

1. Clean and dust your laptop regularly;

2. Keep the laptop cool;

3. Free up space by keeping data on the cloud;

4. Replace the old battery;

5. Buy a good computer to start.

Should you leave your PC on or off?

Regular users can leave their PCs on all the time because each starting emits power for all the components to start working. Although the LCD panels and the battery have a certain shelf-life. 

For those who use it periodically, shutting it down once they’re finished would be better.

Another option to consider for these users is the sleep mode. It puts your laptop in a low-battery mode, leaving the tabs you were using previously open. 

Do you know that Apple’s M1 MacBook can last up to 20 hours on a single charge?

What to look for when replacing a laptop?

Depending on what you will use your laptop for, you can pick and choose. For example, if you’re a gamer, a laptop for general use won’t fit your needs. 

Here are some essential aspects to keep in mind when replacing your laptop:

  • A processor of a current generation;
  • More RAM than your previous laptop;
  • For gamers, a sold, latest GPU is an important feature;
  • An option for SSD storage;
  • Available USB and Type-C ports.

When is the best time to buy a laptop?

If you’re not in a hurry, you can get your desired laptop for a lower price at an Amazon sale. Of course, that might not always be the most viable option. Especially if your laptop has completely stopped responding and you’re using it for business purposes.

The price of flagship laptops usually drops after a year of their launch. If you’re willing to wait, you can get a good value for money. 

Bottom line

How often should you replace your laptop? – every 3 or 4 years; however, it might be sooner if you don’t take care of it properly. Utilise the tips we have listed to reach the maximum lifespan of your laptop.

FAQs

1. What is the average laptop lifespan by brand?

Apple has a reputation for the longest-lasting laptops, 6 to 7 years. Lenovo can last from 5 to 6 years, while the ACER’s laptops last only 3 to 5 years.

2. Can a laptop last 10 years?

Yes, it can. As long as you take care of it properly and replace the battery, which is the first thing that usually stops working after a while.

3. How often should you replace your laptop?

The average lifespan of a laptop is 5 years, although it’s recommended that you replace it every 3 or 4 years.

4. What is the Average Laptop Lifespan by Brand?

Hardware configuration plays a vital role in determining the average lifespan of any laptop. For example, if your Central Processing Unit (CPU) was produced a long time ago, it would have difficulty keeping up with the programs you want to run. Not to mention that it won’t last very long. 

Your processor might be outdated if it stops every time you click on something, even if you have enough storage. Updating your GPU and CPU will mean higher RAM storage and better performance.

Apple Macbook Pro with an Intel Core i9-9980HK CPU or Asus ROG Mothership with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU have higher quality CPU and can last longer than laptops like Lenovo IdeaPad with AMD Ryzen 5 5500U.

According to their hardware specifications, the table below showcases the average lifespan of the most popular laptop brands on the market:

Brand NameAverage lifespan
Apple6 to 7 years
Lenovo5 to 7 years
DELL5 to 6 years
Microsoft4 to 6 years
ACER3 to 5 years

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