What to check when receiving a laptop: 8 steps

Ten minutes of checking when you receive a laptop saves a lot of trouble later. This list works in any shop and for any brand — whether or not you're buying from us.

1. Packaging and contents

Open the box and check what's inside: laptop, charger, documents. On a new device the protective films should still be in place. Compare the model number against the label on the box.

2. Inspect the chassis

Turn it under a light: look for scratches, dented corners, gaps in the casing. Open and close the lid — the hinges should feel firm and even.

3. The screen — the most important step

Check the display on white and black backgrounds (open a white image and a black one):

• Dead pixels — bright dots on black, or black dots on white
• Patches and backlight bleed — glow at the edges on a dark background
• View the screen from different angles — the colour shouldn't shift sharply

4. Keyboard and touchpad

Press every key — none should stick. Open a text field and confirm every character types. Test the touchpad across its whole surface, including the click.

5. Ports

Plug something into every USB port (a flash drive, a mouse). Check HDMI and the power connector. When the charger is connected, charging should show on screen.

6. Battery condition

Windows can show battery information. On a new device the capacity should be essentially full. Unplug the charger and confirm it runs on battery.

7. Do the specs match what was advertised?

This is the step people skip most often. Open the system information in Windows settings and check:

• Processor model
• Amount of RAM (8GB, 16GB...)
• SSD capacity

Compare against the advertised specification. If it was listed as 16GB and the system reports 8GB, that's a serious discrepancy.

8. Sound and cooling

Test the speakers. When the fan spins up there shouldn't be any unusual noise — rattling or knocking.

---

How this works with us: on delivery you inspect first and pay afterwards. If something doesn't match, you can decline the device — and the delivery cost in that case is ours.

If a factory defect appears within 10 days of purchase, the laptop is replaced outright. Warranty: 2 years on new, 1 year on refurbished and used.