I've been thinking a lot lately about buying a new laptop, but here's the thing...I tend to switch devices pretty often. Like, I'm always tempted by the latest shiny gadget that comes out every year or two, you know? So, I'm wondering if anyone has tips on brands or specific models that hold their value better than others.
I had a MacBook Air a few years ago and was pretty surprised at how much I got back when I sold it after two years. But then again, I've seen friends struggle to sell their Windows laptops for even half of what they paid after just one year. Is this mostly an Apple thing or are there certain Windows brands or models that also keep their value pretty well?
Also curious if there's anything specific I should be doing to keep my gadgets in good shape so they're more attractive to buyers later on. Like, is it worth investing in screen protectors or cases from day one? Or do most people not really care about minor cosmetic stuff when buying second-hand electronics?
I'm not exactly looking to make money off reselling, lol, but it'd be nice to know I'm not losing a huge chunk of cash every time I upgrade. Any thoughts or experiences would be great!
I've noticed similar things when reselling laptops. A few thoughts from my own experience:
- Apple products definitely hold their value better overall. Sold my MacBook Pro after about 2 years and got around 70% of what I paid, which was pretty surprising.
- On the Windows side, I've found premium brands like Dell XPS or Microsoft Surface tend to retain value better than budget or gaming laptops. Had a Surface Laptop 3 for about a year and still managed to get a decent chunk back (maybe 60%?), while my Acer laptop dropped like a rock in resale value.
- Cosmetic condition does matter quite a bit, at least in my experience. Buyers seem more confident if the device looks well cared for. I usually skip screen protectors, but always use a sleeve or case when traveling to avoid scratches and dents.
- Keeping the original packaging and accessories helps too. People seem to appreciate having everything that originally came with it.
You're right though—it's tough to avoid losing money completely, but choosing wisely definitely softens the blow...
Good points overall, though I'd say gaming laptops aren't always terrible for resale—depends a lot on the brand and specs. Sold my Alienware after 18 months and was surprised I got nearly half back. Definitely agree on cosmetics though... even minor scratches seem to spook buyers. Curious if anyone's noticed whether upgrades (like adding RAM or bigger SSDs) actually help resale value, or if they're mostly just sunk costs?
Upgrades can be a bit hit or miss in my experience. I sold my MSI gaming laptop last year after about two years of use. I'd upgraded the RAM from 16GB to 32GB and swapped out the SSD for a bigger one, thinking it'd boost resale value. Honestly though, buyers didn't seem to care much about the extra RAM at all. The bigger SSD did help a little, but nowhere near enough to cover what I'd spent on it.
Seems like most people shopping second-hand are looking for a deal rather than premium specs. Cosmetic condition definitely mattered way more—had one guy back out just because of a tiny dent on the corner. Lesson learned: upgrades are mostly for your own benefit while you own it, not really an investment for resale.
