How it works

Fix or Forget answers one question: is your broken phone or laptop worth repairing, or should you replace it? We show the full math so you can judge for yourself.

The math

For a listed device we compute:

• Repair cost — the midpoint of a typical independent-shop range (we also show the official manufacturer range).
• Net replacement cost — the refurbished price of the same model, minus the trade-in value of your broken one.
• Effective value — the refurbished price adjusted for your device's overall condition (good ×1.0, worn ×0.85, poor ×0.65).
• Repair-to-value ratio — repair cost ÷ effective value. This is the number that drives the verdict.
• Support window — how many years of security updates the device has left.

The rules

• No security updates left → Replace.
• Repair is under 30% of the device's value and 2+ years of updates remain → Repair.
• Same, but only 1 year of updates left → Repair (leaning), with a heads-up to plan a replacement soon.
• Repair is 30–60% of value → Borderline: we show both paths and lead with the cheaper one.
• Repair is over 60% of value → Replace — unless you'd DIY and the parts bring it back under 30%, then Repair (DIY) with a skill warning.
• "Won't turn on" and water damage always need a diagnosis first, so we flag those.

About the numbers

Prices are hand-maintained estimates, currently marked low-confidence while we verify them against real listings and manufacturer pages. They're a starting point — always confirm with an actual quote. Spot something off? Run a check and use the feedback button.