If you already own a laptop or are planning to buy one, one question that you might constantly be thinking of is how long do laptops last? It’s something to consider, and if you are asking that, you are not alone; this happens to most new laptop owners as they experience minor to major problems soon after the purchase.
The fact is, it is tough to predict the longevity of a laptop as it depends on various factors. The factors are linked to both the purchaser as well as the manufacturer. Here are the five key considerations.
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Laptop Configuration Considerations
Laptops last more if the configurations are high. For example, if it is a gaming laptop, it typically lasts more than five years, considering the average usage of 8 to 10 hours a day with proper maintenance.
If the laptops are of mid-level configurations and not as high performing as gaming laptops, they may last about three to five years, depending on the usage and maintenance.
Manufacturers Planned Obsolescence Of Laptops
There is a term called Planned Obsolescence, a clever marketing strategy followed by the manufacturers to increase their sales, where the laptops are made in such a way that after a few years, they will become obsolete and unable to run the latest programs and games.
As you can see, planned obsolescence is linked with hardware and software manufacturers.
Game developers regularly release their latest creations with higher requirements than the previous ones, which forces gamers to upgrade their laptops with the newest configuration.
Nevertheless, with a well-configured laptop, you need not switch to an upgraded one for at least two to three years, even if you are a hardcore gamer. But if you single-handedly use a laptop for general use, you can expect your computer to last around five years.
Proper Maintenance For Long Durability
If you don’t want to replace your laptop too early, even before you make the most of your purchase, you will need to take proper care of it. You have to take care of the hardware components and the system software.
Take Care of Laptop Hardware
There are several ways to take care of the hardware components of a laptop. Applying these methods will increase the lifespan of a laptop remarkably.
- Cleaning: Cleaning the laptops’ exterior and interior parts regularly is crucial. There are dust particles that cover the hardware components and create the problem. You can use an air dust blower to clean this away. These air blowers are not overly pricey; you can find them in your nearby superstores and online.
- Cooling Pad: Heating causes the components of a laptop to perish rapidly. To prevent this, you can provide extra cooling to the laptop and the built-in fans. This is achieved by using cooling pads designed for all sorts of laptops. Cooling pads have other fans that provide extra cooling to the computer and increase its lifespan.
Manage Battery Performance
The primary power backup of the laptop is the battery. The average lifespan of a battery can be extended to more than three years if you take good care of it. There are a couple of things to keep in mind for increasing the durability of laptop batteries.
- It is better to keep the laptop connected to a power source whenever possible. Use the battery backup only when needed. This will help extend battery life.
- Turning off the laptop or connecting to a power source is highly recommended once the battery level reaches below 10%. Using the battery backup until the laptop shuts down is unwise as battery life decreases this way rapidly.
Clean Out Junk And Cache
We all know laptops create additional junk and cache files regularly. This stuff slows down the operational process and decreases performance. Manual cleaning of these files is essential to keep the laptop performing optimally.
If you cannot clean them manually, do not worry; many applications are available, such as Cleaners or Advance System Care, for automatically performing such cleaning operations.
Moreover, using an antivirus or a malware remover is an excellent practice to help prevent the laptop from an unwanted attack of malicious software or adware. This way, your computer will perform at its best with an increased lifetime.
Monitor the Warranty Period
If a problem occurs during the warranty period, you can have that issue resolved or possibly a replacement laptop provided. It’s easy to lose track of when the warranty will expire, so keep a note of it, perhaps even add a calendar entry a month prior. If you have any issues, you can resolve them and extend your laptop’s life, possibly by another two or three years.
Conclusion – How Long Do Laptops Last in 2023?
Any decent-quality, mid-configuration laptop should easily last for at least five years. But it can be significantly more if you can adequately care for the laptop’s hardware and software components.
If you go for a higher configuration and the most reputed brands, you can expect to use your laptop for even up to 10 years if you take good care of it. A lot depends on the computer you choose and how you use it.
Hopefully, now you have the answer to “How long do laptops last?”.
When you buy a laptop, you should first decide what purpose you want to use the computer as there are stock trading laptops, drawing laptops, animation laptops, and cheap gaming laptops available in the market.
While most good laptops will support most of these functions, having one with the exact match with features will surely help you get the best performance.
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