Many people, while buying laptops, want to know how long their laptop is going to last.
It is totally clear why.
It is because you want to be sure you are getting the greatest value for your money.
According to research, a $500 laptop’s lifespan can change depending on a number of factors. According to Sturdy Business, a well-maintained model with this price tag can often last 3-5 years perfectly. However, it totally depends on how you take care of it and the specific model you have.
Budget laptops sometimes come with reduced price tags, so it is natural to wonder about their longevity and durability. People genuinely want to know if their investment will endure and meet their demands.
Personal laptops used for moderate jobs like internet browsing and simple tasks will last for 3-5 years. However, if you use a budget laptop every day for demanding tasks, it may become dated and cause problems like slowing down or overheating.
If we are talking about business laptops, they are better than consumer laptops in terms of performance and durability. Also, they are more durable than consumer laptops under heavy use.
On the other hand, $500 business laptops have a 3-year warranty and their parts wear out much more quickly than those of consumer laptops.
Here’s a tip for extending the life of your laptop: keep it tidy, keep it updated, and avoid putting too much pressure on it.
For this reason, I have compiled a list of factors that affect a laptop’s lifespan and will also be providing advice on how to maximize its usefulness.
Factors that affect the lifespan of a $500 laptop:
Like I said, various factors affect how long a laptop lasts before it becomes outdated or unusable. The first thing you should note is computer hardware, which includes RAM, batteries, CPUs, motherboards, and other components.
A laptop with high-quality hardware can survive longer than one with lower-quality hardware.
Additionally, we are all aware that technology is advancing rapidly and that new parts are practically launched daily onto the market. Your laptop can also be outdated if its RAM, graphics card, processor, or hard drive are old-fashioned.
When that happens, it could become unnecessary or useless for carrying out some complicated tasks.
A laptop costing around $700 is expected to last for 2-4 years. Budget laptops cannot take on too many demanding tasks, so if you are willing to buy any, just make sure to take breaks, close unnecessary tabs, and avoid using heavy software. The key is to maintain balance and keep your laptop in good condition.
Another factor that has an impact on its lifespan is how you handle and maintain your laptop. If your laptop is plugged in all the time, it’s not a good thing to do, as it can cut your laptop’s life short.
Maintenance:
Proper maintenance is essential for a laptop just like it is for any other machine. Think of the weather, humidity, and dust. They can all damage the internal components of your laptop. Dust and debris can block fans, which can lead to overheating.
It can have a huge impact on a laptop’s lifespan.
Taking proper care of your laptop, such as keeping it clean, upgrading its software, using it on a flat surface for greater airflow, and avoiding high temperatures, can all help to increase its lifespan.
The longevity of your laptop can be greatly increased by performing routine software and physical clean ups. So make sure it is up-to-date and clean!
Battery quality:
Low-cost laptops often come with batteries with lesser capacities or shorter lifespans. The durability of your battery may be impacted if you charge it frequently.
Handle your laptop with care. You will get more use out of it if you handle it gently and use the power wisely.
Upgradability:
Some inexpensive laptops might only provide a few upgrade choices. It also means that parts like RAM and storage may be difficult for you to replace or upgrade.
Usage and workload:
Excessive use, such as multitasking or running resource-intensive software, can wear down a laptop’s internal parts and reduce its lifespan.
The more difficult the tasks you require your laptop to complete (such as gaming, video editing, graphic design, etc.), the shorter the time it will be useful.
Let’s imagine you use a $500 laptop to play video games. The laptop’s less powerful processor and graphics card could have trouble when playing demanding games, which makes it work harder and generate more heat.
In the long run, the increased stress and heat could lead to component damage and reduce the laptop’s longevity.
On the other hand, your laptop will continue to be an alternative for you, for a longer period of time if you only use it for simple tasks like emailing, web browsing, or watching videos.
Tips to make your $500 laptop last longer:
A budget laptop will often cost less, which suggests it will likely last for a shorter period of time, but that is not really the case. Your laptop will live longer than the typical lifespan if you take care of it and keep it in good condition.
Just be sure not to overload your laptop, as $500 laptops are not capable of handling demanding activities.
Follow these tips to keep your budget laptop in good condition:
1. Battery care and replacement:
Avoid overcharging the battery, and unplug the charger when it has been fully charged. A hot temperature could damage the battery in your laptop, so keep it in a cool place all the time.
If your battery has been running for a while, you should shut it down or put it in sleep mode, this will allow the battery to cool down.
It is always important to take care of your battery and adjust your laptop’s power settings to extend its battery life. Reduce the screen’s brightness and modify the sleep settings.
Batteries can have a major impact on how long your laptop will last
Generally speaking, the lifespan of a laptop battery on a single charge might be anywhere between 2-3 hours or sometimes more, but it can last up to 7 or 8 hours depending on usage and settings.
Like I said before, it really simply comes down to what you are using your laptop for.
If you are merely web browsing, writing emails, or performing any other simple tasks, you might be able to get 4-5 hours out of the cheapest laptop batteries and up to 10-12 hours out of the best laptop batteries.
2. Regular cleaning and maintenance:
When using your laptop every day, basic maintenance is easy to forget. So make sure to use compressed air or a soft brush to clean the ports, air vents, and keyboard on a regular basis.
Also, eat and drink away from your laptop because accidental spillage can really ruin its components.
3. Protect it:
Always try to carry your laptop in a case, sleeve, or bag with a protected pocket designed only for it. Don’t pack your unprotected laptop in the backpack with your books or other items. Laptops can easily get destroyed when carried around in an ordinary backpack without any protection.
It is advisable to buy a bag or a sleeve as per your laptop’s size for better protection.
4. Regular updates:
Your laptop’s security, stability, and performance can all be improved with regular updates. Keep your operating system, drivers, and software updated with the latest updates. Updates usually contain significant security fixes and performance enhancements, which can improve the user experience.
To be honest, Laptops with higher prices typically have longer lifespans than those with lower prices.
This is because most of the expensive laptops are manufactured by renowned companies like Apple, Dell, Acer, HP, and gaming laptops like ASUS, which are known for their high-quality products and dependability.
The CPU, RAM, graphics card, and memory in budget laptops are less powerful. Therefore, limited usage can make them last longer; don’t just use them for heavy tasks, and take proper care to take advantage of them for at least 5 years.