Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Consider a Gadget's Useful Life Before Buying It on EMI
Buying something expensive in small monthly payments is called buying on EMI.
Many people only check if the monthly payment is affordable.
But it is also important to think about how long the gadget will last.
Phones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches are carried everywhere and get dropped a lot.
Their batteries wear out because they are charged almost every day.
That is why they lose value quickly and can seem old within a few years.
Meanwhile, things like televisions and refrigerators stay in one place and can work well for many years.
So the best question to ask is: will I still be using this after I finish paying for it?
Taking good care of any device also helps it last longer.
The real value is not the price tag but how many good years you get out of it.
Portable devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches depreciate faster than home appliances because of constant handling, battery wear and rapid technological change.
A flagship smartphone bought for Rs 2 lakh on an 18-month EMI may have lost nearly 40-60 percent of its original value by the time the loan is paid off.
Home appliances like televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners typically keep working reliably for eight to 15 years with proper care.
Buyers should judge a purchase by its cost per year of reliable use rather than only by the monthly EMI or purchase price.
The comparison is not a universal rule, as a well-maintained smartphone may last six years while a poorly maintained refrigerator may fail much sooner.
- Who
- Consumers who are thinking of buying expensive gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, tablets or smartwatches on EMI.
- What
- A financial guide arguing that buyers should weigh how many years of reliable use a device will give after the EMI ends, noting that portable devices depreciate faster than home appliances.
- When
- Not stated in the article.
- Where
- Not stated in the article; examples use Indian rupees (Rs).
- Why
- To help buyers make smarter financial decisions, since the real value of a purchase lies in its cost per year of reliable use rather than just the purchase price or monthly EMI.
Category Determines Lifespan
Maintenance Matters More
What determines how long a device lasts?
Category Determines Lifespan
Portable devices inherently wear out faster due to handling, battery wear and heat, losing 40-60% of value quickly, while home appliances reliably last 8-15 years and offer better long-term value.
Maintenance Matters More
The comparison is not a universal rule: a well-maintained smartphone may last six years while a poorly maintained refrigerator may fail much sooner, so usage habits and maintenance play a significant role in lifespan.
- Core advice
- Judge a gadget by its useful life after the EMI ends, not just by the monthly EMI cost
- Example depreciation
- A Rs 2 lakh flagship smartphone may lose 40-60% of its value by the end of an 18-month EMI
- Portable devices
- Smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches
- Home appliances
- Television, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, desktop computer
- Typical appliance lifespan
- 8-15 years with proper care
- Smartphone usable life
- About 3-5 years of excellent performance
- Caveat
- A well-maintained smartphone may last six years; a poorly maintained refrigerator may fail much sooner