The UK might be entering the biggest tech-buying period since the first 2020 lockdown. According to Circular Computing, the country is poised to purchase laptops and personal computers in large numbers this spring, as the machines bought to work remotely through the first Covid lockdown near the end of their shelf lives. New research by Circular Computing, an IT remanufacturer, points to consumers and businesses spending heavily — specifically on laptops — to replace devices bought in a “pandemic buying spree” five years ago this month.
The first spike
Computer sales spiked around the first restrictions in March 2020 as businesses rushed to support remote work for their employees. PC shipments grew to 275 million units in 2020. This includes 12.15 million PCs delivered to the UK — a 32.3% annual rise from 2019.
“Five years ago news of the first Covid restrictions and a global chip shortage sparked a pandemic buying spree as consumers and businesses rushed to get their hands on technology ahead of the national lockdown,” commented Rod Neale, CEO and Founder of Circular Computing. “Fast forward to 2025, and a lot of these devices bought for working from home will now look a little long in the tooth and may be starting to struggle on performance. Add on the sunsetting of the world’s biggest operating system Windows 10 and the desire for AI and you have a recipe for another buying surge.”
Laptops have an average lifespan of around three-to-five years. After this point, performance tends to deteriorate, making them less able to support work-related activities. The five-year anniversary of lockdown could, Circular Computing believes, also mark the end of life for many devices, prompting procurement teams and individuals to rush to replace devices en masse.
Circular Computing’s report also notes that the end of support for Windows 10 this October, as well as demand for newer AI-integrated devices, will also encourage IT procurement teams to overhaul tech in 2025.
The case for refurbished and remanufactured IT
As businesses plan their IT refresh, Circular Computing’s report urges procurement teams to consider refurbished or remanufactured devices instead of buying new off the shelf. Buying used, refurbished, or remanufactured devices often dramatically reduces both sustainability impact and cost — two pivotal goals for procurement departments in 2025.
With a large number of companies and households expected to trade in their devices, 2025 also risks seeing a surge in e-waste headed for landfills or shipped overseas to unregulated, unsustainable recycling operations. An estimated 240 million Windows 10 PCs could end up in landfills when support ends or laptops aren’t traded in or recycled correctly. In total, the UK generates around 6 million tonnes of e-waste every year.
According to Circular Computing, a remanufactured laptop prevents about 316kg (700lb) of CO2 emissions and delivers up to 40% cost savings compared to brand new models. Also, organisations like Circular Computing remanufacture laptops to perform “equal to or better than new”, according to the BSI Kitemark.
“With the growing right to repair movement, as well as 2030 and Net Zero pledges looming over the horizon, ‘brand new’ is no longer a badge of honour,” says Neale. “Instead of just sticking with the same old tech-buying routine, businesses must take a long-term view and the easy win of slashing costs and emissions through second-life IT is a no brainer.”
Remanufacturing resilience
Refurbished and remanufactured tech could also be a key factor in meeting another procurement imperative in 2025: resilience.
The Trump administration’s tariffs have drawn stricter boundaries between the US and its previously staunch trading partners. Despite flip-flopping on the imposition of many trade restrictions, the resulting uncertainty is nevertheless making procurement from overseas an increasingly risky prospect for many buyers.
While Neale admits that this generalised uncertainty may push procurement teams to “focus on tried and trusted methods,” he admits that a tariff-rich environment “could challenge this thinking” with regard to a major spike in IT purchasing. “Companies may hesitate to buy from their usual suppliers if it will mean incurring extra taxes that take a bite out of their bottom line,” he says. “For tech buyers, a desire to avoid tariffs may spur more domestic purchases and – as they explore their local market – a greater adoption of second-life IT with the shake-up encouraging new procurement patterns.”
