Repair or Replace? How to Know When Your Laptop Is Done

We see it every week at our shop on Moi Avenue. Someone walks in with a laptop that's been struggling for months — it's slow, the battery barely holds charge, maybe the screen has a crack. The question they always ask us: "Is it worth fixing or should I just buy a new one?"

There's no single answer that fits everyone, but after repairing hundreds of laptops in Kenya, we've developed a clear way to think through it. Here's what we actually look at.

The 50% Rule

A good starting point: if the repair cost is going to be more than half the price of a decent replacement, you should strongly consider replacing instead. For example, if a refurbished laptop with similar specs costs KES 25,000, then any repair above KES 12,000–13,000 probably isn't worth it — unless the machine is very new or has strong sentimental/work value.

Signs It's Worth Repairing

• The laptop is less than 4 years old — younger machines are worth fixing because they'll still serve you well for years after
• It's a single, clear problem — broken screen, dead keyboard, one bad component. Isolated faults are cheap to fix
• The storage and processor are still competitive — if it handles your daily tasks fine when it's working, the hardware isn't the issue
• The motherboard is healthy — this is the heart of the machine. If it's intact, most other repairs are worth doing
• The repair costs less than 40% of a replacement — clear win to fix it

Signs It's Time to Replace

• The laptop is 6+ years old — older machines struggle with modern software and the hardware is degrading across multiple components simultaneously
• Multiple things are failing at once — battery AND screen AND keyboard? That's cumulative wear and it won't stop there
• The processor is severely outdated — some tasks like video calls, heavy browsers, or newer apps will always feel painful regardless of repairs
• Motherboard or CPU failure — these repairs can cost as much as a new machine
• You've already repaired it twice or more — at some point it becomes a money pit

Quick Reference Table

Situation	Our Recommendation
Cracked screen, laptop under 4 yrs old	✓ Repair
Dead keyboard or touchpad	✓ Repair
Battery won't hold charge	✓ Repair (battery replacement is cheap)
Slow performance, 3-yr-old laptop	✓ Repair (RAM/SSD upgrade)
Motherboard failure	✗ Replace
Laptop over 6 years old, multiple issues	✗ Replace
Repair cost > 50% of replacement cost	✗ Replace
Second or third repair in 12 months	✗ Replace

What About "Just Running Slow"?

Slowness alone is almost never a reason to replace. Nine times out of ten, a slow laptop just needs one or more of the following:

• An upgrade from a spinning hard drive to an SSD (this is transformative — night and day difference)
• More RAM (8GB is the comfortable minimum in 2025)
• A clean Windows reinstallation to clear years of bloat
• A thorough cleaning of the cooling vents (heat throttling makes laptops crawl)

We regularly take laptops that people think are "finished" and bring them back to life with a KES 4,000–8,000 upgrade. It's one of the best value fixes out there.

If You Do Replace — Consider Refurbished

If you decide it's time to move on, refurbished laptops are worth serious consideration. We carry professionally refurbished units that come cleaned, tested, with original Windows activated, and often with a short warranty — at 40–60% of the new price. Many of our clients are genuinely surprised by the quality.

We stock a range of models including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Toshiba in our Moi Avenue shop. Walk in or WhatsApp us to see what's currently available.