Things to know when buying a secondhand laptop

“There is a huge market for secondhand gadgets, especially for laptops. Based on OLX’s Data Hub, the most searched gadget by our users is the laptop. About 40% of searches for computers are laptops,” says OLX Goods & Services head Rambo Joinani. “As long as one knows what to look for, buying a pre-owned laptop is a smart and economical option. We’d love to share some pointers to help our users find the best laptop that fits their needs.”

Trim down your choices by identifying your specifications. Are you looking for a laptop that’s good for basic use like sending emails, web surfing, basic office functions, and picture sharing? Knowing what you will be using it for will help lead you to the best used laptop suited for your needs.

1. Know your needs. 2. Do your research.

Before making your purchase, make sure to read user reviews on different laptop brands and models. See what people are saying about brand performance over time. It also pays to do a background check on the sellers.

3. Get to know the original price list for new laptops.

Before purchasing a used laptop, make sure to compare the secondhand price with the brandnew price. You can start off your price survey on OLX, which has an extensive amount of listings of both brand-new and pre-owned laptops. Knowing and comparing the prices will help you make an informed decision.

4. Check the specifications.

This includes the original software CD, recovery CD, drivers, backup media, and licenses of the software. Very important: Be sure to check if the preloading operating system is genuine.

5. Examine the ‘inside’ of the laptop.

Ask the seller if it is possible to check the motherboard to test how responsive and fast the laptop is. Observe if it heats up fast or makes loud noises when you start it up.

6. Look at the physical condition.

If the external appearance matter to you, you might want to check if there are any dents or cracks because these might lead to bigger problems for the used laptop in the long run.

7. Examine the laptop screen.

Check the condition of the screen. It’s not worth the purchase if the screen flickers or has uneven brightness because it could mean there are loose connections that cannot be repaired.

8. Perform a thorough battery check.

Most laptop batteries have a lifespan of three years, so if it’s a used laptop, it’s possible that its battery will have a limited standby time. Be sure to check this before making your purchase.

9. Inspect the ports and peripherals.

Try out all the ports, headphone plugs, HDMI, SD card slots, CD/DVD drive, and other inputs, which are essential for an easy file transfer or other recreational purposes.