The rule: the 50% Rule + the 5-Year Rule.
If the repair costs less than half of a comparable new laptop and your laptop is under 5 years old, repair it. At half or more, or past 5 years, replace it.
There is a third option most people miss: if your only complaint is that the laptop is slow, an SSD or RAM upgrade — usually $50 to $150 — can make a 4-year-old laptop feel new. Don’t spend $1,200 to fix a $100 problem.
Laptops age fast. Windows machines hold up about 3 to 6 years, MacBooks 6 to 8. Past 5 years, even a cheap repair is a stopgap — the battery, keyboard, and hinge are all on the same clock.
Educational estimate only. Based on YOUR repair quote, cost of a comparable new laptop, age of your laptop in years, and whether it is just slow you enter. Uses 50% Rule + 5-Year Rule: repair if under half the cost of new and under 5 years old; at half or more, or over 5 years old, replace. If only slow, SSD or RAM upgrade usually $50 to $150 can fix it. Not tech advice.
Disclaimer: Educational only, not professional technical or financial advice. Get quotes from reputable repair shops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 50% rule + the 5-year rule for laptops?
If the repair costs less than half of a comparable new laptop and your laptop is under 5 years old, repair it. At half or more, or past 5 years, replace it.
What if my laptop is just slow?
An SSD or RAM upgrade — usually $50 to $150 — can make a 4-year-old laptop feel new. Don’t spend $1,200 to fix a $100 problem.
Why is 5 years the cutoff?
Laptops age fast. Windows machines hold up about 3 to 6 years, MacBooks 6 to 8. Past 5 years, even a cheap repair is a stopgap — the battery, keyboard, and hinge are all on the same clock.
When should I ignore this rule and talk to a professional?
This is educational only, not professional technical or financial advice — get quotes from reputable repair shops.
Not quite your situation?
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