We all have been lured in by a cheap laptop sale of Rs 15000 to 18000 or under Rs 20000. At first glance, it looks like a bargain i.e why should we pay more than 40000 when you can have a "functional" machine for pennies on the rupees ?
But before you buy and transfer the
money or click on “ Buy”, here is an important question we should ask ourselves
that -Are low-cost laptops really profitable in the long term?
Spoiler alert:
What you save initially may
double the cost later. From slow performance to regular repairs, cheap laptops
have some underlying trade-offs. Let's see why that "cheap" laptop
may drain your wallet.
Performance:
Budget laptops tend to skimp on
parts such as processors, RAM, and storage. A Rs 20000 to 22000 model may come
with:
Outdated Processors (e.g., Intel
Celeron or Pentium processors), can’t handle multitasking and current software’s
version. While now a days it is expected to have at least 8 Gb ram, 4 Gb of ram
cause constant lagging and more than usual time to start and close of apps. Freezing
eMMC storage: rather than SSDs, resulting in slow boot times.
The hidden expense:
Time is money and cannot be
restored. Waiting for apps to load or experiencing frequent freezes can sink
productivity. Students, remote workers, and occasional users all end up
upgrading earlier abolishing their initial cost savings.
Build Quality of
Cheap Materials.
To achieve low price points, manufacturers employ plastic
frames, weak hinges, and low-resolution screens.
Eventually, these sacrifices result in:
- Cracked screens due to minor impacts.
- Defective keyboards (mystifyingly jammed keys, cracked backlights).
- Expanding due to poor quality lithium-ion batteries.
The underlying expense: Replacements on value-priced laptops
are 50-70% of what you initially paid. In turn, if a screen cracked on a 22000
laptop might run you 11000 and it is with undertrained that the other parts
will not quit as well soon afterward.
Short Lifespan:
Glorified laptops such as MacBooks or Dell XPS or HP x360 devices
have a lifespan of 5-7 years if handled well. Low-end models? Most stall after
2-3 years & Why?
Non-upgradeable components: Soldered RAM and storage get you
stuck on outdated specs.
Software obsolescence: Low-end laptops usually don't have
driver support or can't cope with OS upgrades.
The stealthy cost: Replacing a new laptop every 2-3 years
costs 50000 over 6 years compared to 80000 upfront for a long-lasting machine.
Guess which is less expensive?
4. Battery Life:
Companies enjoy advertising "10-hour battery life"
on low-cost laptops, but actual use is different. Low-cost batteries wear out
faster, and power-sucking components (such as HD displays) suck the life out of
them.
Example: A laptop of cost Rs 18000 to Rs 22000 might drop from 8 hours to 2 hours of battery life within a year. Suddenly, you are tied to an outlet—defeating the purpose of a portable device
Software and Bloatware
Budget laptops often come loaded
with bloatware (pre-installed trial software, ads, and antivirus tools). These
may lead to Slow down performance, Consume storage space , Require paid
subscriptions to remove.
Resale Value:
High-end laptops hold ~40-50% of their value after 3 years. But
what is about Budget models?
You will be lucky to recover 20% of its cost price . A 20000
laptop may resell for Rs 6000 to 8000, while a Rs 90000 MacBook may
sell for Rs 45000 to 60000 depending upon condition
Surprised? A mid-range laptop tends to cost less in the long
run.
When and Why Should You Buy a Cheap Laptop?
Always the budget laptop is not bad. The Budget laptops
aren't terrible—they are reasonable for:
Kids. learning basic computer skills.
Secondary devices
(e.g., a travel laptop you won't cry over losing).
Single-task uses like streaming or document editing.
By considering its limitation properly and then plan to buy
it.
Smart Alternatives to Cheap Laptops
1. Refurbished Premium Models: Buy a used business laptop
(e.g., ThinkPad or Dell Latitude) with improved specs for Rs 32000 above
2. Chromebooks: If you just need web apps, a Rs 16000
Chromebook beats low-end Windows laptops.
3. Wait for Sales: In the festive
season just like Diwali in India or Christmas is being celebrated all over the
world many online vendors offer huge discount on Laptops. Wait for that moment
and grab that opportunity. If you are s student then, HP, Apple store offer upto
50 % discount , if you serve your student identity. Many stores give sale
offers in their anniversary date.
Conclusion: Cheap Isn't Always Joyful
Although budget laptops appear to
be a bargain for your pocket, their secret expenses just like repairs,
premature death, and lost productivity. For main devices, spending on above Rs 40000
laptops with upgradable RAM, an SSD, and long-lasting build quality will end up
saving you money (and frustration) in the long term.
