When to Upgrade COVID-Era Laptops: A 2025 Guide

It’s been four years. By 2025, most laptops purchased during the pandemic will reach their fourth birthday, which means maybe it’s time to consider a refresh.

Devices that are four years old or more start to present a range of issues that can lead to significant and unexpected IT expenses for organisations. For starters, the manufacturer’s warranty these devices came with has likely expired, as most warranties cover only the first three years.

And that three-year limit is no coincidence. Around that time, a device’s health often starts to decline. Batteries begin to fail, devices run slower and may overheat, keyboards wear out or become unresponsive, touchpads malfunction, and charging ports can get damaged—the list goes on.

These issues usually leave organisations with two choices: either keep fixing the devices until they fully give out, which leads to high repair costs, lower productivity, and employee frustration; or leave the failed devices gathering dust in a storage closet—not exactly ideal, right?

Considering what happened during COVID, when organisations scrambled to buy devices, now is a great opportunity for businesses to standardize their IT fleet.

Going back in time

Let’s take a step back. During the early pandemic days, firms across the country suddenly had a workforce shifted to home offices, often without the laptops that needed to work remotely. This resulted in a rush to buy whatever laptops were available, forcing IT teams to equip staff with a mix of brands, models, and specs to meet the urgent need of keeping everyone connected and productive.

But this approach came with its own challenges. Managing and repairing a fleet made up of different brands, models, and specs is much more difficult and costly than having a standardized fleet with one brand and perhaps two consistent models. Standardized equipment makes ordering parts, setting repair protocols, and maintaining devices simpler and less expensive.

So, as 2025 approaches, it’s the perfect chance to start afresh and get your IT organised. Don’t forget, too, that Windows 10 support ends on 14th October next year. If you haven’t made the switch to Windows 11, now’s the time to get it done.

Learn more about the transition to Windows 11 in this blog

We’re here to help you refresh and standardize your entire IT estate. Get in touch, and we’ll help you explore cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions to keep your IT running smoothly.

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