Repair or replace? A simple way to decide when a gadget breaks

When a phone, laptop or pair of headphones stops working, the reflex is to start shopping. Sometimes that is right. Often it is not, and a few minutes of checking can change the answer.

Step 1: get a real repair quote

Find out what the repair actually costs, including parts and labour, from at least two places. The manufacturer’s service centre is a useful benchmark, and an independent repair shop is often cheaper for common faults like screens, batteries and charging ports.

Step 2: apply the half-price rule

A common rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than about half of what a comparable replacement would cost, replace it. If it costs less, repair is usually the better deal.

Adjust for age. A 6-year-old laptop that needs a $150 battery is a different decision from a 1-year-old laptop needing the same part, because the older machine has fewer useful years left.

Step 3: check what else is wearing out

Ask whether the repair fixes the whole problem. A new battery in a phone that no longer receives security updates only delays the inevitable. On the other hand, a laptop that is slow because of a nearly full drive may only need a larger, cheaper storage upgrade.

Before you pay for anything, check these:

• Is the device still under warranty, or covered by a credit-card extended warranty?
• Does your home or renters insurance cover accidental damage?
• Will the manufacturer still send software and security updates for it?

When replacing is the better choice

Replace when the device no longer gets security updates, when it cannot run the software you rely on, or when the repair is expensive and the device is already several years old.

If you do replace it, do not throw the old one in the bin. Many retailers and manufacturers run take-back programmes, and a working device can often be sold or donated.

The cheapest gadget is usually the one you already own, so it is worth asking one extra question before you click “buy”.