This is the most common question we're asked. The right answer depends on three things: what's broken, how old the laptop is, and what you'd spend on a replacement.
Factor 1: What's Broken
Always worth repairing (cost-effective even on older machines): screen, battery, keyboard, charging port, RAM upgrade, SSD replacement. These are peripheral repairs that don't affect the core machine.
Sometimes worth repairing (depends on machine age and value): power jack, USB ports, Wi-Fi card.
Usually not worth repairing on an older budget machine: motherboard failure. Motherboard replacement on a 5+ year old $600 laptop typically costs more than the laptop is worth.
Factor 2: How Old Is It?
A 3-year-old laptop with a screen crack absolutely deserves a repair — you have years of useful life ahead. A 7-year-old laptop where the motherboard is failing is a different calculation — even if the repair works, the machine will have other problems in 12 months.
Factor 3: The 50% Rule
If the repair cost exceeds 50% of what a comparable replacement would cost, replacement starts to make more financial sense. Exception: if the replacement would be a downgrade, or if the laptop has specific capabilities (a particular GPU, screen resolution, keyboard quality) that are hard to replicate at the same price point.
The Hidden Cost of "Cheaper to Buy New"
A new $700 laptop from JB Hi-Fi contains a budget CPU, 8GB RAM soldered to the board (not upgradeable), 256GB storage and a 1080p TN panel. Your existing 5-year-old mid-range laptop may have a better screen, keyboard and CPU. "New" doesn't automatically mean "better."
We'll Always Tell You Honestly
When we assess a laptop, we tell you if repair isn't worth it. We'd rather give honest advice than complete an uneconomical repair that leaves a client unhappy.