"How much to fix my laptop?" Honest answer: depends what's actually wrong with it. That's not a dodge. The same symptom can come from a KSh few-thousand part swap or a motherboard-level fault costing several times that, and the only way to tell which you've got is to open it up. Here's what can actually be priced in advance, and why the rest can't.
Screen replacement: the one repair with real numbers
- Standard HD laptop screens: roughly KSh 4,500-6,500, depending on the model and panel type.
- Higher-spec or business-laptop screens: priced according to the specific panel required.
- MacBook screens: roughly KSh 25,000-45,000+, reflecting the cost of Apple display assemblies.
Priscom doesn't repair MacBooks in-house. Mac repairs, screens included, go to a third-party specialist, which is part of why MacBook screen costs sit at the top of that range.
Why almost nothing else gets a price list
Take "my laptop won't charge." That could be a straightforward battery swap. It could also be a fault in the charging circuit on the motherboard, a different repair entirely, at a different price. A shop that quotes you a fixed number for "battery issues" before opening the laptop is either guessing or planning to charge you more once they find the real fault. Neither serves you.
The same logic runs through board-level work (a dead port, a liquid-damage short, a laptop that won't power on at all; scope varies from a quick swap to an extensive repair) and keyboard replacement (cost depends on whether the part itself is cheap and widely stocked or model-specific, and whether the fault is the keyboard or a connector underneath it). Diagnosis has to happen first, in every case.
What the diagnosis itself costs
A diagnostic fee applies before any repair work begins. It's not free, and it isn't a flat fee either, since it varies by device and fault. Ask for a diagnostic quote for your specific laptop and issue. If the laptop is still within warranty and the fault turns out to be covered, no diagnostic or repair labour charge applies to that claim, but the inspection is what determines coverage, not an assumption going in.
Turnaround
Many straightforward repairs and upgrades run about 30 minutes to an hour once the part is in stock and the fault is diagnosed. Board-level faults, parts that need sourcing, or send-in repairs take longer; the shop should confirm a realistic timeframe after assessment rather than promise one before looking at the machine.
Bring the laptop, and the charger
Describe exactly what's happening: when it started, whether it's constant or intermittent, what you've already tried. Ask for the diagnostic fee upfront and what it covers. Ask for a written quote before any chargeable work starts. If the laptop's still within its warranty period, say so clearly before the inspection begins.
When repair stops making sense
A single, well-defined fault, a cracked screen or a dead battery, is usually worth fixing on almost any laptop. It's the cluster of faults on an aging machine that changes the maths. If your technician is quoting a screen, a battery, and a keyboard on a laptop that's already six or seven years old, ask directly whether those combined costs are approaching what a replacement (new or Ex-UK refurbished) would run. A repair shop worth using will tell you honestly when replacement is the better number, not just the easier sale.
Ready for a diagnosis? See the laptop repair service page for how to bring your device in.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!