How Much is My Laptop Worth? Here's What Your Laptop can be Valued At

Dave Miller – Tech Enthusiast & Security Expert – November 16th, 2022

When you may wish to get a new laptop, but your existing model is still in good shape, you may question how much is my laptop worth right now. To use the money you receive from this to help fund your new laptop, you may want to know this information most of all, how much is your laptop worth? Or do old laptops still have value? It is essential because you’ll want to maximize the use of your old laptop. But the answer to this question will require some explanation because it can be fairly tricky.

I can assure you that you will need to consider various criteria, and not always will your old laptop be worth much. But if it does, you should be aware of where to search.

Continue reading the article to learn the factors determining how much your laptop is worth, and I will also discuss a few options for where to dispose of your old laptops as well.

New Laptops are Expensive – Why?

Laptops are becoming more prevalent across every institution. What you have also seen, though, is that laptop prices are rising faster than they ever have, and this is not only due to increased demand. Initially, business people who had to work on computational tasks constantly were the significant laptop users. However, today’s processing demands could be too much for outdated computers to perform. Additionally, getting a laptop update is unavoidable if you want it for intensive work.

So, the design and construction of laptops today are more complicated. If you’ve ever opened a laptop, you’ve seen something similar, and let me tell you; it’s practically frightful for everyone to see all the complex configurations.

But laptops are more popular than PCs due to their portability and ability to accomplish all PC-based functions anytime, anywhere. Although the same qualities that make laptops valuable also make them pricey to purchase. So now you know that to get a laptop with the best setup, you will need to spend a substantial amount of money. If you already have a laptop with you, you might be surprised to learn how much is a used laptop worth. But answering how much is your laptop worth is something you may not get a straight answer. A used laptop’s exact value cannot get calculated. But what I will teach you next is how to get an accurate answer by going through a few steps.

Estimating Your Old Laptop Cost - How Much Is Your Laptop Worth

So let’s look at the specifications and information that can help you determine the current market value of your old laptop.

Step #1: Benchmarking

Benchmarking is the first step in figuring out where you stand with an old, used laptop. Benchmarks often subject your computer to predefined tasks before providing scores that may get contrasted with those of other PCs. You can use the free benchmarking tools for this. Your benchmarking results will determine the factors that will affect the price of your old laptop.

Many users may be confused by notebook components, but you should be able to remember the essentials. When you wish to benchmark, you must consider your CPU, RAM, hardware, and other comparable gear. These are all the same things you look for when you buy a new laptop.

Step #2: Condition of your Laptop

Next, you should be able to assess the state of your laptop. If you think about selling, this will undoubtedly be one of the critical factors influencing pricing and luring in new purchasers. Therefore, if you plan to sell your laptop, don’t do it while it has significant damage. Consequently, you may only sell it when both the out and the in are in good condition.

When talking about the condition, an older laptop can typically get classified in a few different ways.

Good: The laptop is in perfect working order and has no obvious defects. Damage to the keyboard or trackpad is not acceptable here, only normal wear and tear. It would still be considered in good secondhand condition if there were minor scratches and scuffs and no structural faults or problems.

Average: The laptop is functional, but there are some obvious problems, such as body dents, cracks, or keyboard keys with erased markings. The laptop’s flawless operation is a major attraction here.

Non-Working: Here, you can quickly visualize what is entirely wrong, whether severe hardware or major aesthetic issues, with a laptop.

All details mentioned above regarding your previous laptop are already known to you. You will go on to the next stage of the assessments.

Ways to Get Valuations for Your Laptop

There are several methods for obtaining assessments from various sources online. Here are a few of them, along with free valuations.

Check Online Stores

There are many internet shops where individuals openly publish adverts for the goods they want to sell. There is where you may make use of this knowledge that is already out there. You may use Google to search for the same used laptop model you now have, or you can search a specific retailer I will provide below. You will see what other individuals have set the price for laptops similar to yours. You can check out the following e-commerce websites to compare prices if you want to see specific stores: eBay, Amazon, and so on.

eBay

As we all know, eBay is an online marketplace best known for its consumer-to-consumer sales and auctions, or, to put it another way, as a place where buyers and sellers can meet and exchange almost anything. Internet retailers who use it as a sales channel also like it quite a bit. Both buying and selling products are options. There are charges related to having a seller account.

Peruse the straightforward adverts provided by others, or post your own and request modifications from those looking to purchase. The seller sets the opening bid price, and the item is up for bidding for a certain period on eBay. Therefore, this could also be a good place to start.

Amazon

Amazon Warehouse offers fantastic savings on elevated used, which was before, or open-box products. Before being sold, we do a quality check on each of their items. You may use your laptop to shop for things comparable to those already on Amazon, or you can use Amazon to sell products directly.

Back Market

It is the top marketplace for refurbished electronics, and its major goal is to reduce electronic waste by providing professionally repaired electronics with a second chance. Back Market has developed a clear grading system that considers its updated products’ aesthetics and technical state. On their website, you may purchase items or sign up to sell them for the greatest possible ratings.

Online Price Calculators

Various online calculators provide quotes for you to know how much is your laptop worth by asking for only a few simple pieces of information. You may examine the value of your old laptop on two websites: Sell My Laptop and Gadget Value. Both are straightforward, and you may continue after getting a quote. If your laptop’s precise brand and model get not listed on their website, contact them, and they’ll give you a tailored quote.

Retail Shops

Retail stores make massive purchases of products from producers, either directly or through a distributor, and then profitably resell those products to consumers in smaller amounts. You may go straight to retailers as they are the last stop in the distribution chain from manufacturers to customers. Many of them also offer secondhand laptops. The easiest option to acquire the most realistic cost for your laptop in your area may be to take it to a nearby retailer’s store. To obtain the greatest deal, don’t forget to check many stores.

Asking local laptop merchants questions about their products in-person is another benefit of going door to door. You may enquire about technological issues and market trends and even get your laptop examined for hidden problems.

How Much Is Your Laptop Worth – Depreciation Factors

We occasionally feel we’ve had enough of our current computers because they don’t work well or don’t have the newest features. And now, everyone wants to get a new laptop whenever possible due to the expanding computing needs and technological advancements. Even though older laptops are becoming obsolete in terms of specs, it is still essential to preserve their worth.

According to estimates, computer equipment loses value at a rate of 25% to 75% in the second year, and so on. So if you bought your laptop for let’s say $1000 two years ago, it’s safe to say that it may be worth $500 or less right now.

A computer’s essential depreciation—the amount of money it has lost in value over time—can be calculated in several different ways. One presumption is that the computer’s worth declines by the same amount each year. The other is that the declining-balance technique predicts that the computer would lose more value when it is more recent and less valuable as it ages. As a result, you can roughly estimate how much of your laptop’s value has already got lost. There are two factors you can think of when discussing depreciation factors.

Technological Advancements & Moore's Law

In general, newer computer models are more affordable and powerful than previous ones. Old computers lose value to make the value of the processing power they can provide equal to its current replacement cost. The specs of modern computers improve via technological advancement. By rendering older computers outdated, such advances in modern computers might reduce their value. One will anticipate a decline in the rate of depreciation of old computers if the pace of technological advancement in the creation of computer hardware slows.

Gordon Moore predicted in 1965 that the number of microchip transistors would double every two years. And it is still true in today’s industry, where improvements in semiconductor technology have brought down the price of computer power. Prices, however, are not decreasing because as technology advances, more calculation is required, and as a result, manufacturers have kept costs flat. Because a high-quality laptop costs more, you will experience depreciation when you have an older model.

Oversupply

More frequently, we witness an overstock when IT departments are getting rid of stock or when people are getting rid of outdated PCs. Another reason your old laptop is depreciating swiftly is that many companies have been closing down and phasing out equipment faster in recent years. They offer fair and competitive prices for all makes, models, sizes, and specifications of laptops.

What Else You Can Do with Your Old Laptops

If the value of your old laptop does not interest you, consider recycling it or donating it rather than sending what was once the most excellent laptop you had ever bought to the local garbage. Yes, you could always throw it away, but why not try something different? It all starts with your morally righteous and civic-minded choice to give your PC to a good cause. Electronics manufacturers and merchants provide several methods for recycling or donating them. On the websites of the following organizations, you can look for options:

Attending one of the charity events is yet another of the most straightforward and practical ways to donate.

Notably, simple donations are not a problem, but donating the equipment so you can deduct it from your taxes is one of the priciest ways to sell your computer equipment because you’ll have a lot of paperwork.

How Much is Your Laptop Worth? Bottom Line

We all need a laptop these days because of technological advancements, whether we are working professionals or students. Therefore, if you own a laptop and plan to replace it with a new one, you must take action for the current model. You can calculate a price often greater than the real price if it has a value that can get obtained by the earlier processes. You will have an anticipated price based on the abovementioned factors, which you can use to help pay for your new laptop.

Online marketplaces are one of the best free places to get the most value, but if you have any doubts, you should visit a physical store for the best evaluations.

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Dave Miller

IT Consultant at Online Cloud Security

Dave Miller is an IT Consultant for Online Cloud Security and has over 7 years of experience in the Information Technology space. He also specializes in repairing laptops & computers. In his spare time, he loves to talk about new technologies and hosts monthly IT and Cyber Security meetings in the Houston area.

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