A Sane Checklist for Buying a Second-Hand Laptop

A two-year-old premium laptop usually beats a brand-new budget one at the same price, but only if you check the right things before handing over cash. Most buyers check none of them.

Start with the battery: cycle count and full-charge capacity tell you more than the seller's 'barely used' ever will. Then the keyboard deck, because worn keys mean hard use, and every port, because a dead USB-C turns a bargain into a project.

Finally, insist on a factory reset in front of you and proof the device is signed out of the previous owner's accounts. Ten calm minutes of checking is what separates a steal from an expensive paperweight.