How Long Do Laptops Last? [Answered]

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Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

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I have found that the lifespan of a laptop can vary depending on its model and type. In my experience, Apple’s Mac stands out as an exception, lasting 7 to 10 years. On the other hand, laptops supported by other operating systems typically have a lifespan of 3 to 6 years.

Key Takeaways

• A laptop’s lifespan is how long it takes for a laptop to become unusable, mostly depending on its battery.
• You may need a new laptop if it is worn out, has no long-lasting battery, takes too long to process data, and has storage issues.
• You can extend your laptop’s lifespan by protecting its exterior, using its USB ports, replacing its battery, scanning for viruses and malware, and keeping it clean.

The Average Lifespan You Can Expect From A Laptop

The average lifespan indicates how long your laptop is expected to deliver optimal performance. It doesn’t imply your laptop will abruptly fail after this time, but its performance may decline. Laptop lifespan varies by type, and here are some common laptop types.  

Daily-Use Laptop

These are consumer laptops whose sole purpose is to fulfill lightweight tasks. The tasks may be internet browsing, streaming videos, and similar. In my experience, these laptops give optimal performance for 4 years.

Daily laptop users on different platforms across the internet also share a similar experience.^[1] After this, the hard drive starts giving issues. You can be lucky enough to get a one-year warranty with it, too. These laptops are relatively cheap compared to others.

They are also built with lightweight hardware, which requires less power to run. This also results in their battery life lasting longer than other laptops.

Office Work Laptop

Often known as business laptops, these are far more dependable than consumer laptops. You can get them with a warranty of as much as 3 years, which is a plus. These laptops are built for resource-intensive use as well. From the outside, these laptops have an exterior built to deal with rough and tough use.

These high-end laptops are much more reliable and can last as long as 6 years.

Gaming Laptop

The lifespan of a gaming laptop is determined by its manufacturer and the quality of the materials it is built with. You can expect a gaming laptop to last 5 years. This has been true in our experience and other gaming laptop users on YouTube.^[2]

You can use these laptops to carry out resource-intensive tasks, and they will complete your tasks without facing a lag or anything similar. Again, your laptop can give this sort of performance till a certain time until it starts to fall behind, too.

Has Battery Life Got Anything To Do With A Laptop’s Lifespan?

A laptop’s battery life significantly impacts its lifespan, and as it ages, so does its battery. After 1 or 2 years, the battery begins to lose capacity, and how you charge the laptop affects its life. The battery undergoes a limited number of cycles, and not adhering to these cycles can lead to battery health deterioration.

I have experienced laptop batteries losing their ability to last long when plugged in at all times. Further, manufacturers also recommend avoiding leaving the laptop plugged in all the time.^[3]

Furthermore, with today’s demanding applications and software, older laptops tend to deplete their batteries quickly. It’s prudent to check if the laptop’s battery is replaceable before purchase.

^{To extend your laptop’s battery life, use fewer apps and browsers simultaneously, opt for headphones over speakers, avoid fast charging, and prevent overheating with a cooling mat.[5]}

Tips That Can Help Extend The Lifespan Of A Laptop

While laptops have a lifespan in which they give their absolute best performance, there are still some ways you can push the lifespan a little more to make your laptops last longer. 

• Make sure to wipe the fans and the keyboard free of dust and debris. This will help extend the lifespan of the laptop’s hardware components and also aid in preventing overheating.^[6]
  
  WARNING: Make sure to use the proper tools like microfiber cloth when cleaning the laptop to prevent any further damage.
• Make sure to replace the laptop battery with a new one once it hits 3 years after use. This will help in extending the lifespan of the laptop.
• Make sure to clean the USB ports and keep them in use. This will help keep them functional for a longer period. Also, ensure that you eject the USB once you are done using it so there is no room for unwanted damage.
• Regularly scan for any hidden viruses and malware in your laptop. Oftentimes, they are the root cause behind many hardware issues. ^[7]

More Helpful Resources By Tech4Gamers:

• Windows 11: Keep A Monitor On When The Laptop Is Closed
• How To Disable Laptop Keyboard? [Windows And macOS]
• How To Shut Down Laptop From Keyboard? [Mac & Windows]

References:

1. Quora. How long does an average laptop last? Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/How-long-does-an-average-laptop-last/answer/Loren-Forslund?ch=10&oid=68872598&share=ed2b5af8&srid=h1XxLo&target_type=answer

2. Youtube. How Long Will A GamingLaptop Last? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqg7HZHSAVc

3. University Of Michigan. Tips for extending the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries. Retrieved from https://news.umich.edu/tips-for-extending-the-lifetime-of-lithium-ion-batteries/

4. Hampshire College. Laptop Battery Conditioning and Maintenance. Retrieved from https://www.hampshire.edu/it/user-support/software-and-hardware/basic-computer-care/taking-care-your-laptop/laptop-battery

5. Indiana Wesleyan University. Tips for Longer Battery Life. Retrieved from https://kb.indwes.edu/Computers/HardwareDevices/Tips_for_Longer_Battery_Life

6. GCFGlobal. Keeping your computer physically clean. Retrieved from https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/keeping-your-computer-clean/1/

7. PAMUKKALE University. Hardware Problems. Retrieved from https://www.pau.edu.tr/bidb/en/sayfa/hardware-problems

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@old.tech4gamers.com