Device Refresh Cycle Calculator
Weigh resale decay, rising repairs and productivity gains to find whether refreshing or keeping longer wins.
Enter Your Values
Using shared profile · 3,500/mo · EUR — edit on Dashboard
Results update automatically as you change values.
What-If Scenarios
Results update instantlyCost Breakdown
6-Year Net Cost
Click chart to expand
Side-by-Side Comparison
Bars show relative size · ✓ marks the better option- Hardware / depreciation
- €1,219
- Repairs
- €90
- Productivity value
- €420
- 6-Year net cost
- €889
- Hardware / depreciation
- €555
- Repairs
- €990
- Productivity value
- €0
- 6-Year net cost
- €435
| Factor | Recommended Refresh on cycle | Keep longer Best Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware / depreciation | €1,219 | €555 |
| Repairs | €90 | €990 |
| Productivity value | €420 | €0 |
| 6-Year net cost | €889 | €435 |
Refreshing every 3 years costs €889 net over 6 years. Keeping longer costs €435. Keep longer wins.
Scenario Analysis
How the outcome shifts if your assumptions turn out better or worse than expected.
Optimistic assumptions
At stated inputs
Pessimistic assumptions
Compare Scenarios
Pin up to 3 and see them side by sideSet your inputs, then Pin current to save this scenario. Pin a few variations to compare their scores and outcomes here.
What Moves the Needle Most
How much each factor changes your Refresh: 6yr across its full range. Productivity % has the biggest impact.
Focus your attention on Productivity % — getting it right matters most. Factors lower down move the result less, so rough estimates there are fine.
Confidence & Assumptions
The outcome shifts meaningfully with your assumptions. Sensible, but revisit the key inputs.
Refresh: 6yr: €1,067 (worst) → €889 (expected) → €755 (best)
These are the estimates the result depends on. Adjust them (and the Advanced inputs) to match your real situation — the closer they are to reality, the more reliable your decision.
These estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on factors not captured in this calculator.
How This Calculator Works
What this calculator does
This calculator compares refreshing a device on a set cycle against keeping it longer, balancing hardware depreciation, rising repairs and the productivity value of newer gear.
How the calculation works
We model refresh net cost (buy − resale each cycle, light repairs, productivity gains) versus keep-longer costs (rising repairs and lost resale), then pick the lower net cost over your horizon.
Formula
Resale ≈ Price × (1 − Decay)^Age Refresh Net ≈ Σ(Price − Resale) + Repairs − Productivity Keep Net ≈ Rising Repairs − Resale Change
Example
A €1,200 laptop refreshed every 3 years over 6 years may cost less than keeping a slowing machine if a 2% productivity gain on €50k output is real (€1,000/year). Without productivity value, keeping longer usually wins.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your numbers
Fill in the inputs for Device Refresh Cycle Calculator. Defaults are realistic starting points — replace them with your actual figures.
- 2Understand the calculation
We model refresh net cost (buy − resale each cycle, light repairs, productivity gains) versus keep-longer costs (rising repairs and lost resale), then pick the lower net cost over your horizon.
- 3Review results and scenarios
Check metrics, cost breakdown, comparison tables, and best / expected / worst scenarios. Use sliders to stress-test assumptions.
- 4Decide with the verdict
Read the decision engine recommendation and FAQ. Example: A €1,200 laptop refreshed every 3 years over 6 years may cost less than keeping a slowing machine if a 2% productivity gain on €50k output is real (€1,000/year). Without productivity value, keeping longer usually wins.
Factors to Consider
- OS and security support end dates
- Battery and repairability
- Honest productivity estimates
- Resale markets for your brand
- Employer refresh policies vs personal devices
Common Mistakes
- Refreshing every year out of habit
- Ignoring resale decay when waiting
- Overstating productivity gains
- Forgetting rising repair costs with age
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good refresh cycle?+
Phones often 4–5 years; work laptops 3–5 years depending on workload. Run both strategies here with your salary/output value.
How do I estimate productivity gain?+
Be conservative: 1–3% for a meaningfully faster machine. If the old device still feels fine, use 0% and decide on repair and resale alone.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important financial decisions.
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