Which Microsoft pieces hold their value
- Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models with current processors, which still receive updates and are usable as everyday machines
- Higher specifications with more memory, since the memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded later by the buyer
- Machines with the original charger, which uses a proprietary connector and is expensive to replace
- The Surface Studio and the peripherals around it, which were made in small numbers and hold a niche following
And what pulls the price down
- Swollen batteries, which lift the screen or the trackpad away from the chassis — this is a known Surface failure and effectively ends the machine
- Cracked screens, which on a bonded display cost close to the value of a used unit to replace
- The original Surface RT and other models that never ran standard desktop software, which have essentially no practical value now
- Missing or third-party chargers, which are a frequent source of returns because the connector is specific to the range
Identifying and dating yours
These are the checks that decide which end of the range a piece sits in, and they are the facts a serious buyer will ask for:
- The serial is under the kickstand on a Surface Pro and on the base of a Surface Laptop, and it identifies the exact model and generation
- Lay the device on a flat surface and photograph it edge-on — any rocking or a gap at the screen edge is the first sign of a swelling battery
- State the processor generation, the memory and the storage in the title, since these are not upgradeable and are what buyers filter on
WishThrift does not authenticate or inspect anything. Condition and origin are described by the seller against five grades — what each one means — so photograph the markings above rather than asserting them.
What Microsoft items are worth
The most-searched Microsoft items on the site, with the band the label typically commands against the generic range for the same item:
| Item | Microsoft range | Any brand |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | £126–£735 | £120–£700 (~$168–$979) |
| Tablet | £63–£368 | £60–£350 (~$84–$490) |
| Video Games | £5–£42 | £5–£40 (~$7–$56) |
| Desktop PC | £105–£525 | £100–£500 (~$140–$699) |
| Game Controller | £16–£52 | £15–£50 (~$21–$69) |
| Computer Keyboard | £10–£63 | £10–£60 (~$13–$84) |
| Webcam | £10–£58 | £10–£55 (~$13–$77) |
| Computer Mouse | £8–£47 | £8–£45 (~$11–$63) |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price.
Every Microsoft value guide
Selling Microsoft on WishThrift
Listing is free and there is no commission on either side — the price you agree with the buyer is the amount you keep, whatever the label is worth. Create a free account, or read the selling guides for what to photograph and how to price.
Frequently asked questions
Is used Microsoft worth buying?
It depends far more on the line than the label. Microsoft hardware resale is almost entirely Surface, and Surface has one specific problem that decides the price: the batteries swell, and on a glued-down chassis that is the end of the machine rather than a repair. Each guide below says which Microsoft lines hold their value for that item and which have almost none, so you are comparing like for like rather than paying for the name alone.
How do I check a piece is genuine Microsoft?
The serial is under the kickstand on a Surface Pro and on the base of a Surface Laptop, and it identifies the exact model and generation. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything — condition and origin are described by the seller, so ask directly and expect an answer. A seller who has the item will send a photograph of the marking in minutes.
What is used Microsoft worth?
Across the 8 guides here, from about £5 to £735 (roughly $7 to $979) depending on the item and its condition. Grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts.
See also: value guides by brand · all value guides · buying guides · selling guides · condition grades.