When buying a laptop, it is natural to wonder whether it might be worth waiting a few more months. A new generation of processors may arrive and older models could become cheaper.
However, current market developments suggest that significant price drops for new laptops may not come anytime soon. Memory and SSD storage remain expensive, while manufacturers are once again turning their attention to older technologies as well.
Why Might New Laptops Not Get Cheaper?
RAM and SSD storage are among the key components of every laptop. Their prices are currently being affected by strong demand from manufacturers of electronics, servers and AI data centres.
Micron has also signed several long-term agreements with major customers. Some of these are expected to last around five years, meaning that a significant share of future production has already been reserved in advance.
If memory and storage remain expensive, manufacturers have less room to reduce laptop prices. Promotions and short-term discounts will, of course, still appear. However, there is no guarantee that waiting a few months will result in a significantly better price.
Manufacturers Are Returning to Older Processors
Another interesting signal is coming from the processor market. According to unofficial reports, Intel is considering increasing shipments of some older generations. The reason is said to be growing interest in more affordable platforms that use DDR4 memory.
This information has not yet been officially confirmed. However, it shows that the latest technology is not always the most cost-effective option.
Older platforms are proven, often more affordable and still powerful enough for a large number of users. A newer processor therefore does not automatically mean a better purchase.
Is 11th Generation Intel Still a Good Choice?
When choosing a laptop, we often focus on the processor generation number. A higher number, however, does not automatically mean that an older device is no longer sufficient.
11th generation Intel Core processors, known as Tiger Lake, offer a good balance between performance and power consumption. Selected configurations also feature integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.
They can easily handle:
- office applications and document work,
- multiple open browser tabs,
- video calls and online learning,
- video playback,
- everyday multitasking,
- basic photo editing.
For a student, teacher, sales professional or someone working from home, this still provides more than enough performance for everyday use. Especially when combined with 16 GB of RAM, a fast SSD and the solid build quality of a business laptop.
Take a look at the current range of refurbished laptops with Intel Core i5 processors.
The Year of Manufacture Is Not the Only Thing That Matters
When choosing a laptop, the most important thing is to consider what you will actually use it for.
Do you need it for office work, studying, travelling or more demanding applications?
For most everyday tasks, choosing a well-built device with enough memory and a fast SSD is often a better option than paying extra simply for the latest processor generation.
That is also why business laptops from Lenovo, Dell and HP can remain useful even after several years.
A Refurbished Laptop Can Be the Smarter Choice
A laptop does not have to be the latest model to be reliable, fast and suitable for everyday work.
A refurbished laptop allows you to get a higher-end business-class device at a significantly lower price than when it was sold as new. You get solid build quality, practical features and performance that may be more than sufficient for several more years.
Every Techsavers device goes through thorough testing, diagnostics, cleaning and refurbishment. You can find out more in our Refurbishment Centre.
Refurbished technology comes with a 2-year warranty, a 30-day return option and free delivery on orders over €100.
Waiting for a significant drop in the price of new laptops may therefore not be the most cost-effective option. It may be smarter to choose a device that already meets your needs today and avoid paying for performance you will not use.
Take a look at our range of refurbished laptops.
How much could you save compared with buying a new device? Find out with our savings calculator.
