Why Do Laptops Always Have Stickers on Them?


It’s extremely common for laptops to have multiple stickers on them, but not everyone knows what they’re for or what they mean. So, why exactly do laptops always have stickers on them?

Laptops always have stickers to show what components are inside. They’re also used to display the brand names (such as Intel or Microsoft), which will make other people more likely to buy a laptop with the same brand name. Laptop stickers help consumers decide which laptop to buy.

The rest of this article will discuss why laptops have stickers on them in greater detail. I’ll also discuss what each sticker means and whether or not you should peel them off.

Laptop CPU Image

What Is the Purpose of Laptop Stickers?

The purpose of laptop stickers is to show the consumer what specific parts are in the laptop, such as the processor or the graphics card. It also shows the consumer what brands are associated with the laptop and works as a marketing tool. 

For example, many people only know (or have heard of) the brand name “Intel” from reading laptop stickers. Intel is one of the most popular CPU companies globally, and its worldwide recognition is in part thanks to the many stickers on laptops around the globe. 

These stickers create a sense of recognition amongst the general public, so it works in the company’s favor.

But other than working as a marketing tool, the Intel (and other) stickers on laptops are supposed to inform the consumer about the laptop’s specs. 

Let’s look at each sticker in more detail below.

CPU Sticker

Most laptops will have a CPU sticker, and it’s usually Intel. An example would be a sticker that reads “Intel Core i7 inside.” CPU stands for central processing unit, which means it’s essentially the component that provides processing power to the laptop. 

So, the Intel sticker tells you what kind of processor is in the laptop, and it gives you an idea of how powerful it will be. The CPU is often considered the most essential part of any computer or laptop, so it’s vital that consumers can easily see what kind of CPU is in the laptop they’re purchasing.

Let’s say you’re purchasing a laptop for work, but you also want to do some light gaming from time to time. You go to the store, and you’re deciding between two laptops. One has an Intel Core i3 sticker, and the other has an i5 sticker. 

In this instance, it would be better to go with the i5 because it has more processing power. Since you plan on doing some light gaming, more processing power is better. As you can now imagine, having the intel stickers on the laptops makes the browsing experience much easier (and quicker).

Operating System Sticker

On most laptops, another sticker that you’ll find is the operating system (OS) sticker. Usually, this will be a Windows sticker (for example, Windows 8 or Windows 10). This sticker lets the consumer know what OS is on the laptop, which is a crucial detail to consider when buying a laptop.

When you’re looking at a laptop, all you see is the outside. You don’t know what’s on the inside, so having the OS sticker is essential. For example, some people might only want to buy a laptop if it has the latest Windows OS. They can simply check the sticker to see what the OS is in that instance.

It’s also helpful for people who want to avoid any particular operating system. For example, some people might want to avoid a laptop that operates on Linux. In that case, they can check the sticker to make sure the laptop runs on an OS that isn’t Linux, such as Windows or Chrome OS.

Graphics Sticker 

The other main sticker that you’ll find on many laptops is the graphics sticker. This sticker lets you know which GPU the laptop has. An example of a graphics sticker would be NVIDIA, one of the most common GPU brands for laptops. The NVIDIA sticker is usually green, but it can have black in it, too.

GPUs are most important for gaming because they help render images and video. If you’re planning on using your laptop for gaming or streaming videos, you should pay attention to the graphics sticker.

Can You Remove Laptop Stickers? 

You can remove laptop stickers. If they won’t peel off easily, you can use a solvent like rubbing alcohol to make it easier. However, if you plan on selling the laptop in the future, it might be best to keep the stickers on.

Since the stickers display valuable information about the laptop, it’s good to keep them on if you want to sell it eventually. Keeping them on will ensure you’ll have all the necessary details about the laptop if you ever need to have it repaired, replaced, or resold.

Additionally, if the stickers aren’t bothering you, it’s better to keep them on because taking them off might leave a sticky residue which can be time-consuming to clean. 

If you do decide to remove them, you can either throw the stickers in the trash or keep them somewhere safe, as you might need them in the future. An example of when you might need them is if you’re giving the laptop to a friend or family member and they want to know its specs.

But generally, the laptop stickers aren’t necessary once you’ve bought the laptop, so it’s perfectly fine to remove them and throw them in the trash.

AMD RYZEN 7 4000 series CPU and AMD RADEON graphic card stickers on a silver laptop

Conclusion

Laptops always have stickers to show the consumer what components are in the laptop and what brands are associated with it. The three most common laptop stickers are:

  • CPU sticker
  • Operating system (OS) sticker
  • Graphics sticker

Each sticker gives you valuable information about the laptop, but they also work as marketing tools for the companies. 

You can remove the stickers once you’ve bought the laptop, but it’s not necessary. If you plan on selling the laptop in the future, it’s best to keep the stickers on to keep it looking new.

Rob

I'm Rob, the founder of theonetechstop.com. I’m a Marine Corps vet with a master’s degree in Information Systems and have been working in the technology field for over a decade.

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