Should I repair or replace my laptop?
Laptops sit in an awkward middle ground: parts are pricey, performance ages quickly, but a battery or screen swap can buy you years more life. The right answer depends heavily on what's broken — and how old it is.
Common laptop faults — and what's worth fixing
Honest verdicts based on typical repair costs vs. lifespan. Your specific quote and replacement price still drive the final answer — that's what the calculator does.
| Fault | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Battery degraded | Repair | Almost always worth it on a laptop under 5 years old. Cheap, fast, restores portability. |
| Cracked screen | Repair if under 4 years old | Part cost varies hugely by model. Check the quote vs. a refurb of the same machine. |
| Keyboard failure | Repair | Reasonably priced and high impact on usability. |
| Slow / running hot | Repair (clean + SSD upgrade) | Thermal repaste + SSD swap can transform a 4-year-old laptop for a small fraction of new cost. |
| Motherboard / GPU failure | Usually replace | Logic board jobs rival the cost of a refurb laptop. |
| Liquid damage | Usually replace | Even successful repairs often fail again within a year. |
Repair if the fix is under ~30% of a new comparable machine and the laptop still meets your performance needs. Otherwise replace — or buy a refurb.
That's the heuristic. The calculator does it properly — with your actual quote, live replacement prices, and confidence scoring.
Repair when…
- ·Laptop is under 4 years old
- ·Fault is battery, keyboard, screen, or storage
- ·Performance still meets your needs
- ·Repair is under 30% of a new comparable model
Replace when…
- ·Motherboard or GPU has failed
- ·Liquid damage diagnosed
- ·Laptop is 5+ years old and feels slow for your work
- ·Repair quote exceeds 40% of a new equivalent
Run the numbers on your laptop
We'll combine your repair quote, live replacement prices, lifespan, and reliability into one transparent recommendation — with confidence and next steps.
Open the calculatorFAQ
How long should a laptop last?
5–7 years for general use; serious creative or developer workloads tend to age machines faster (3–5 years before they feel slow).
Is it worth replacing a laptop battery?
Almost always yes if the laptop is under 5 years old and otherwise healthy — it's one of the highest-value repairs you can do.
Repair an old MacBook or buy a refurb?
If the fix is more than ~40% of a refurb of the same model, the refurb is usually the smarter call — you get fresh battery, clean SSD, and warranty.