Don’t Buy a Windows 10 PC

If you’re in the market for a new Windows PC, a Google search will reveal many different options—some of which can be quite pricey. Going down the used or refurbished route can be a smart way to save money on a capable machine, especially if you can confirm the vendor’s legitimacy. However, there’s one type of laptop you should steer clear from: a Windows 10 PC.

As CNET’s Geoffrey Morrison highlights, Windows 10 PCs are available at steep discounts on the used and refurbished market. It’s not hard to see why: Windows 11 has been Microsoft’s main OS for years now, so new laptops have shipped with that operating system. PCs that are designed to run on Windows 10 are quite old, and, as a result, they don’t fetch much of a price tag on the web.

But if you’re looking for a PC to check your email, surf the web, or watch Netflix, you might not care about how new (or old) that Windows 10 PC is: You might just want to spend the least amount of money possible on a computer that can do what you need it to. The issue is, just because these computers work, that doesn’t mean they’re smart buys—or even something you should buy at all.

The main issue is, Windows 10 is no longer officially supported by Microsoft. That means this Windows 10 PC you’re eyeing will not receive security patches for any vulnerabilities discovered going forward. The longer you have this laptop, the riskier it becomes, as bad actors can target your machine with malware specifically designed to take advantage of the growing list of security vulnerabilities. You can access to Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program, but this ends on October 13, and it either requires money, Microsoft points, or to sync your PC settings to the cloud.

By buying a Windows 10 PC now, you’re choosing to pick up a machine that will be dropped by Microsoft in fewer than eight months. If the machine is compatible, you can upgrade it to Windows 11, but as Morrison points out, why wouldn’t the seller do that themselves? If they’re selling it to you running Windows 10 in 2026, it’s likely the machine doesn’t support Windows 11.

You’re much better off finding a good deal on a machine designed to run Windows 11. Microsoft has not committed to an end of life date for this OS, as it’s the current operating system the company makes.