Replacing a laptop is not always better than repairing it. The decision comes down to age, what is wrong and what the machine must still do.

Repair is usually right when

A repair makes sense in these cases.

  • The laptop is under about four years old
  • The fault is a battery, screen, keyboard or port
  • The repair costs well under half of a new machine
  • It still runs the software you need

Upgrade first

More memory and a solid state drive can make an older machine feel new for a fraction of the price of replacing it. A technician can tell you whether yours can take them.

Replace when

Replace it when the repair is close to the cost of a new one, the machine is too old for current software updates, or it is the third fault this year.