How long do laptops last? we’ve all asked this question at least once in our lives. And the answer depends on multiple factors. Our laptops are the ultimate play/work stations that we can carry where ever we want and whenever we like. These compact and portable electronic devices have shifted the course of work and play for most of us.
Laptops have greatly spawned and encouraged more and more new ventures and entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by providing them with the freedom and mobility they always desired.
[su_note note_color=”#e0f7f8″]Knowing what to expect from your laptop beforehand alleviates you from any future troubles you might face, this way you know your laptop’s lifespan and the approximate time you have before it gives up on you or when should you plan an upgrade.[/su_note]
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How Long Do Laptops Last?
The longevity of a laptop varies from build type, model, manufacturer, and last but not least how you use it. Let’s dig a little deeper into this, shall we?
Average lifespan of a daily use laptop
An everyday use laptop should perform normally for at least 3-5 years. Although this average varies with type, for instance, a gaming laptop lasts for at least 7-8 years whereas a business-grade laptop lives up to 5-7 years. There are two things you must know about a laptop’s life expectancy, one is operational and the other is useful life expectancy.
Operational lifespan is a measure of how long a laptop will be functioning properly under normal usage, a useful lifespan of a laptop is about the time a laptop will be able to run and meet system specifications of the most advanced program in the market at a given point in time. Three components of your laptop define how your laptop will perform with newer programs in the future; its CPU, Graphics card, and RAM. An old laptop will face a hard time keeping up with demands the latest programs will put on these components.
A Battery’s tale
Yes, a battery life’s tale is a lot different than the laptop it’s fueling. Contrary to your laptop, its battery will respond differently to the aging process. Batteries have relatively shorter lives and as they get old, the ability to hold charge for a longer time reduces and, in many cases, they start giving up within 1 or 1.5 years. Hence, battery replacement is going to be a recurring event in any laptop owner’s life. Though a battery can still work just fine for way longer than 1 year, you’d just need to keep its charger right by its side at all times.
Listen to your laptop!
Your laptop is going to tell you hint by hint when it’s reaching its end or demanding an upgrade. It’s not like the laptop is going to die all of a sudden. Listen to all the early signs from your laptop and act at the right time. What are these signs? Let’s see!
Snail-paced processing
As the storage of an average laptop, without add-ons, is limited and when it has reached the peak of its service, it’s going to take longer than before to perform simple tasks. You won’t be able to enjoy the fast processing speed as you would on a new laptop. Frustrating right? It’s telling you to update!
Crashes and more crashes!
If your laptop starts displaying unusual screens and glitches all of a sudden, or the sudden “blue screen of death” ever so often, know that it’s time to get a new one! Sometimes it can be because of corrupt system files or faulty hardware. Simply put, frequent crashes and blackouts are a clear warning.
Incompatibility
This is a situation where your laptop refuses to process or read a new program because it just can’t! The system is unable to run it. This issue can be resolved by installing a newer version of the operating system. But again, not all laptop motherboards will be able to properly support the latest operating systems. It might miss system files that it can’t take on.
Battery
If the laptop has run a decent course of time, chances are that a low charge life of your laptop is not just about a battery change. With time, the laptop’s batteries degrade and if accompanied by other issues, it might be time to change the laptop.
How to increase the lifespan?
You can increase your laptop’s life by practicing certain things and keeping a keen eye out for signs of aging. Some tips on increasing the lifespan are:
Right laptop for right purpose
Best way to increase lifespan of a laptop is to use it for the purpose it’s built for. Avoid frequent overclocking, but if it’s unavoidable due to your work requirements, then getting a more powerful laptop will be appropriate.
Close background programs
This is a simple one! Just close any program that you’re not using to lengthen the laptop’s life. Running applications and programs can cause an increased burden on the CPU which nobody wants.
Use battery wisely
Don’t overcharge or over drain your battery. Get familiar with the type of battery your laptop has and how must it be maintained. Keep a check on the battery performance and life and upgrade timely.
Hardware
The motherboard, hard drive, chips, and other internal hardware of your laptop determine how your laptop performs. Keeping the hardware equipment well maintained and choosing the best manufacturers is going to play a huge role in the lifespan of a laptop.
Which one do I get and what would it cost?
Some laptops are built better than others, there’s no debate there! Dell, Lenovo, and Apple take the lead when it comes to battery lives and overall longevity. The Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is an indestructible and amongst the most durable laptops known.
They withstand high temperatures, endure rough usage and a tested 17-plus hour battery. Apple MacBook Pro 13” is known for its build quality, reliability, and impressive resolutions. Definitely one to pick! Dell XPS13 and HP Spectre x360 both machines are manufactured to last with their top-notch hardware and long battery lives.
A laptop’s processor type, hardware, brand, and features, etc. determine its price. You can get a cheap laptop for $300 or a feature-studded, latest model for around $600-$1500. Top-of-the-line laptops can cost up to $3000, so start saving up!
Conclusion!
Model, price and brand, and usage are some key factors that define how long do laptops last on average. Albeit, you need to take great precautionary measures and use your laptop wisely to ensure it lasts longer than the average time.
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