Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025. No more security updates — which means every day an old Windows 10 machine stays online is a day it’s running on borrowed time.
The catch: millions of perfectly good laptops can’t upgrade. Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 chip and a compatible CPU, and most pre-2018 consumer laptops don’t have them. That’s created a flood of “cheap laptops” on marketplaces that are effectively e-waste with a keyboard attached.
How to tell if a cheap laptop is a trap
- Ask if it runs Windows 11. If the answer is “it can stay on Windows 10” — walk away. Unsupported OS means unpatched security holes.
- Check the CPU against the Windows 11 list. 8th-gen Intel and newer (or Ryzen 2000 and newer) are the safe zone.
- Watch for “Linux installed” listings. Fine if you’re a Linux user; a red flag if the seller is hiding a machine that can’t run Windows 11 properly.
Why ex-business laptops dodge this problem
Business machines from 2018+ (ThinkPad T480/T14 class, EliteBooks, Latitudes) were built with TPM 2.0 and Windows 11-ready CPUs as standard. That’s why the refurbished business-laptop market took off — it’s the only way to get a genuinely upgradeable, supported machine at a budget price.
Every laptop we sell ships with genuine Windows 11 Pro installed and activated — no upgrade surprises, no activation traps. And it’s covered by our 6-month Australian warranty.
Browse our Windows 11-ready refurbished stock:
- Lenovo ThinkPad T14 — 14" FHD, Win 11 Pro
- HP EliteBook Dragonfly — FHD touch, Win 11 Pro
- Dell Inspiron 14 7420 — 14" FHD, Core i7
- See all laptops →
Questions about a specific machine? Ask us before you buy.