Think your laptop has seen its best days? Here are a few signs that show when it’s time to buy a new one.
A laptop usually lasts a few years, but sometimes you may notice before then that it no longer does what you need it to do. Sometimes it can also last longer than you think. But at some point, even the most faithful laptop will fail or no longer be good enough for what you want to do with it.
There are plenty of other things that can go wrong with such a device. Based on a few signs, you can determine for yourself if it’s time for replacement. We have gathered the most important ones for you.
7 signs that show you’re ready for a new laptop
Is your laptop ready to retire, or can it last a while longer? You’ll find out with the help of these seven signs. Here they come.
#1 Screen size or resolution is no longer sufficient
The screen is one of the most important reasons to buy a new laptop or not. If you find that your screen is too small, or doesn’t show enough detail, it’s smart to switch to something new. Of course, you don’t want to constantly plug in an extra monitor.
#2 The battery doesn’t charge (properly)
All batteries get weaker with age, including laptop batteries. But if your battery works so poorly that it has to go on the charger every so often, you have a big red flag to deal with. That means you always have to be near an outlet, which rather defeats the idea of a portable laptop.
Charging again already? (Image: Unsplash)
#3 Your laptop does not have enough memory
If you have a lot of files on your laptop, you may find that the device is slowing down. If you notice that your device is struggling with this, you may need more RAM.
But here comes the problem: Not all laptops allow you to add additional RAM. Some have RAM already built in and fixed, so you can’t change it. Then you’re better off buying a new laptop.
#4 Your hard drive is crammed and you have no other storage options left
As your laptop ages, a full hard drive can become a problem. Fortunately, you can transfer non-essential files to an external drive or the cloud. But that’s not always convenient, and cloud storage can be expensive.
Sometimes you can upgrade the hard drive in your laptop, especially if it’s a modern SSD. Then it’s just a matter of putting in a new drive. But sometimes that’s not possible, especially if your laptop is old and still has an old-fashioned hard drive. Then it might be time to consider a new device.
Adding extra memory? (Image: Unsplash)
#5 Your laptop is too big and not portable
Laptop designs have become increasingly slimmer in recent years. Even today’s cheaper models are much more portable than those of a few years ago. So if you’re tired of lugging around a bulky device, you can probably find a much better one that suits you better now.
#6 Laptop gets hot quickly
It is quite normal for your laptop to get hot sometimes. Especially when performing “big” tasks. But if your laptop is constantly making fan noise and getting so hot that you can’t even hold it on your lap during simple tasks, then something is wrong. A good cleaning can help, but if your device is really old, you may need to look into getting a new one.
Bloody hot! (Image: Unsplash/Herbert Goetsch)
#7 Your interests and expectations have changed
Over time, your needs and what you expect from your laptop change. Maybe you bought a laptop a few years ago for simple tasks like homework and Internet browsing, but now you have a new job that requires a more powerful computer. Or maybe you now want to do more gaming and need a laptop that can handle that.
In situations like this, your old laptop just can’t meet your needs anymore. So instead of struggling with an old one that no longer works the way you want, it might be time to invest in something new that better suits what you need.
