Greatest place to purchase a refurbished MacBook or Mac
Apple makes nice computer systems, however they’re not low cost. Even in case you are glad to pay the entry value for a brand new iMac or MacBook Professional, you might be painfully conscious that for just some hundred kilos or {dollars} extra you can get a way more highly effective mannequin. However are you able to justify the additional spend?
Fortunately you don’t need to, as a result of usually you could find a earlier technology Mac and typically even the present technology mannequin, on sale for much less at Apple’s Licensed Refurbished retailer.
It’s not solely Apple that gives refurbished Macs although. There are different locations you should buy used Macs which have been refurbished, however not all refurbished Macs are nearly as good as those Apple sells, so you must watch out for the pitfalls. Fortunately we will likely be operating by way of the issues to keep away from on this article, so that you could be assured you’re going to get one of the best refurbished Mac or MacBook in your wants.
We’ll additionally clarify what the Apple Licensed Refurbished Retailer is, what value you may anticipate to pay for a refurbished Mac or MacBook, and different methods to purchase an affordable Mac. We’re additionally highlighting a few of the greatest refurbished Mac offers obtainable proper now.
Ought to you purchase a refurbished Mac?
We’ve an article devoted to this query right here: Why you can purchase a refurbished Mac. However to summarize, there are many the explanation why shopping for a Mac from the Apple Licensed Refurbished Retailer is a good suggestion.
The Refurbished Retailer is a piece on Apple’s web site the place you should buy refurbished Macs and MacBooks, in addition to different Apple merchandise together with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod and Apple TV.
These refurbished Macs could possibly be fashions from a earlier yr, or they could possibly be present fashions. A reconditioned Mac could possibly be an ex-demonstration mannequin used throughout Apple educating applications, or it could possibly be a unit bought to a buyer who determined to return it underneath the usual sale-and-returns process. (Apple permits any buyer to return a Mac purchased from the Apple Retailer inside 14 days for a refund. See Apple’s Commonplace Returns Coverage U.S. and Commonplace Returns Coverage U.Okay.).
It’s additionally potential {that a} buyer returned the Mac as a consequence of a fault, however that fault would have been rectified by Apple earlier than the Mac could possibly be resold. In reality, Apple states that: “Each Apple Licensed Refurbished product completes a rigorous refurbishment course of that features full testing that meets the identical practical requirements as new Apple merchandise. Your refurbished gadget is really ‘like new.’”
As well as, every Mac:
- Will likely be totally cleaned and inspected
- Consists of Apple’s normal one-year restricted guarantee
- And as much as 90 days of complimentary technical assist
- Comes with all equipment, cables, and working techniques
- Is packaged in a brand-new white field
- Is dispatched with free transport and returns
- Will be bought through financing choices
- And could be delivered subsequent day
The necessary factor to notice is that Macs purchased from the Apple Licensed Refurbished Retailer should not discernibly completely different from new ones purchased straight from the Apple Retailer. All Macs purchased from the Refurbished Retailer are cleaned, checked, examined, and visually indistinguishable from brand-new fashions.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
Causes to not purchase refurbished Macs
As you may see there are many good causes to purchase a refurbished Mac from Apple. Are there any disadvantages?
One drawback is that purchasing refurbished Mac will possible imply that you simply aren’t shopping for a present technology mannequin, though, as we now have already stated, it’s potential to search out present technology Macs on the Apple Refurbished Retailer, however not till no less than half a yr after launch. Proper now the shop is now flooded with M1-series and M2-series Macs, with a couple of older Intel-powered Macs lucking within the depths of the shop (for those who truly need an Intel Mac that is the easiest way to purchase one, however first learn: Ought to I purchase an Intel Mac).
The opposite draw back to purchasing from Apple’s Refurbished Retailer is it could not all the time have the mannequin you’re after. For the reason that inventory relies on the variety of returns made or traded in, Apple could have extra of 1 merchandise than one other, which is when you might want to show to different retailers.
One other drawback is that the reductions you get from shopping for on the Apple Refurbished Retailer aren’t all the time nearly as good as you’d get for those who purchased the identical mannequin from someplace else. However shopping for from somebody apart from Apple could be dangerous.
For instance, you will get refurbished Macs on Amazon U.S. and on Amazon U.Okay., however the majority of those are typically previous Macs and never fashions we might suggest shopping for. There are numerous different locations that promote refurbished Macs and MacBooks that we are going to run by way of beneath. There are various different locations that can promote you a ‘refurbished’ Mac, however not everybody performs the identical checks as Apple does. Discover out why we don’t suggest shopping for a Mac second-hand if the Mac isn’t licensed refurbished in Ought to I purchase a used Mac?
The place to purchase refurbished Macs
Apple isn’t the one firm to resell second-hand, refurbished Macs. You may additionally decide up a refurbished and reconditioned Mac from resellers listed beneath:
Within the U.S.:
Within the U.Okay.:
Shopping for refurbished, even when it’s not from Apple, ought to imply that the Mac has been inspected by a licensed Apple technician and, if mandatory, defective components changed (however we advise that you simply verify this). Shopping for the identical Mac second-hand for much less would possibly look enticing, however it’s not assured to work. It’s value paying a little bit additional for a refurbished mannequin for peace of thoughts. It’s like shopping for a automobile from a storage reasonably than somebody on Gumtree.
Simply remember that you simply don’t have to purchase a refurbished Mac to get an excellent low cost should not equal. Amazon, for instance, usually reductions previous-generation Mac fashions, so you can purchase a reasonably new mannequin at a reduction. The distinction is that whereas Apple could possibly be promoting a mannequin that had been returned as a consequence of a fault (which has been repaired), the opposite reseller could possibly be promoting an equivalent Mac that’s by no means been used.
If you wish to discover a deal, try our articles concerning the greatest iMac offers, greatest Mac mini offers, one of the best MacBook Professional offers, and the greatest MacBook Air offers to search for one of the best reductions on new Macs and MacBooks. Guarantee that the mannequin that you simply discover on Apple’s Refurbished Retailer isn’t being bought as new by another person.
Greatest offers on the Apple Refurbished Retailer
U.S. Apple refurbished offers
U.Okay. Apple refurbished offers
Once more, it’s value evaluating whether or not different retailers are providing higher costs for a similar fashions when shopping for new. Amazon and different stockists usually have good reductions on new Macs. To seek out one of the best costs take a look at our offers round-ups:
How less expensive are refurbished Macs and MacBooks?
The worth for reconditioned Macs on Apple’s Refurbished Retailer modifications incessantly, however is usually 15 p.c lower than the unique value, as you may see from the costs quoted above. With Macs commanding a excessive retail value, this may be fairly a major distinction.
Understand that inventory is proscribed on refurbished fashions from Apple, and also you’re unlikely to search out each model of Mac always. Different Mac resellers would possibly provide even decrease costs than the Apple Refurbished Retailer, so it’s value buying round – notably throughout gross sales occasions like Black Friday.
What’s the oldest MacBook/Mac I should purchase?
Apple
Apple
Apple
With the arrival of the brand new Apple chips you wish to consider carefully earlier than shopping for an previous Mac as a result of Intel-powered Macs are more likely to lose worth a lot faster than Macs with Apple silicon inside. However with the primary M1 MacBooks arriving on the finish of 2020 there are many older M1, and M2 fashions in the stores refurbished–you may even discover M3 Macs. The query is must you?
Should you can afford to we suggest sticking to fashions with Apple M1- or M2-series chips, but when that’s too costly for you we might recommend that you simply don’t purchase a Mac that’s greater than seven years previous. It’s because older Macs could not run a model of macOS that Apple helps with safety updates. Even when the Mac you purchase now could be supported by Apple it could solely be the case for a yr or so. See: How lengthy does Apple assist Macs and MacBooks?
Right here’s an summary of the Macs that can run Ventura which launched in late 2023:
- MacBook fashions from 2017 or later
- MacBook Air fashions from 2018 or later
- MacBook Professional fashions from 2017 or later
- Mac mini fashions from 2018 or later
- iMac fashions from 2017 or later
- iMac Professional (all fashions)
- Mac Professional fashions from 2019 or later
- Mac Studio (all fashions)
We don’t but know what Macs will likely be supported by the follow-up to macOS Ventura, however if you need a Mac you may comfortably use in three years from our advice is don’t purchase something older than these fashions.
What if I’ve an issue with a refurbished Mac?
Should you purchase from Apple you might be in good fingers. Apple states: “All Refurbished Mac fashions embrace full practical testing, real Apple half replacements (if mandatory), a radical cleansing, the unique Working System or a more moderen model, a model new field with all equipment and cables.”
Extra importantly, a reconditioned Mac or MacBook comes with a one-year guarantee (extendable to a few years with AppleCare safety). You additionally get the identical gross sales and return process with Apple as you’d with any new mannequin, so you may return a Mac purchased from the Refurbished Retailer inside 14 days for those who’re not proud of it. (However notice you’ll need to put up it again, as Apple won’t settle for returns to a bodily Apple Retailer on refurbished merchandise).
Not that we predict you will have to return your Mac. We’ve loads of expertise shopping for from Apple’s Refurbished Retailer and have but to select up a Mac from the Refurbished Retailer and discover it wanting.
Need to promote an previous Mac? Listed below are our suggestions: Learn how to promote a Mac or MacBook. You too can commerce in your Mac to save cash on a brand new one, together with buying and selling in your previous Mac at Apple.
