Apple makes great computers, but they aren’t cheap. Even if you’re happy to pay the price of entry for a new iMac or MacBook Pro, you may be painfully aware that for a few hundred euros or a few dollars more, you could get a much more powerful model. But can you justify the extra expense?
Fortunately, this isn’t necessary, as you can often find a previous generation Mac, and sometimes even the current generation model, on sale for less in Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store.
But Apple is not the only one offering refurbished Macs. There are other places where you can buy used Macs that have been refurbished, but not all refurbished Macs are as good as those sold by Apple, so you need to be wary of the pitfalls. Luckily, we’ll go over the things to avoid in this article, so you can be sure you’ll get the best refurbished Mac or MacBook for your needs.
We’ll also explain what the Apple Certified Refurbished Store is, what price you can expect to pay for a refurbished Mac or MacBook, and other ways to buy a cheap Mac. We’re also highlighting some of the best refurbished Mac deals available right now.
Should you buy a refurbished Mac?
We have an article dedicated to this question here: Why you should buy a refurbished Mac. But to summarize, there are many reasons why buying a Mac from the Apple Certified Refurbishment Store is a good idea.
The Refurbished Store is a section of Apple’s website where you can buy refurbished Macs and MacBooks, as well as other Apple products, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod, and Apple TV.
These refurbished Macs can be previous year models or current models. A refurbished Mac may be an older demo model used during Apple educational programs, or it may be a unit sold to a customer who has decided to return it as part of the standard sales and return procedure. back. (Apple allows any customer to return a Mac purchased from the Apple Store within 14 days for a refund. See Apple’s US Standard Return Policy and UK Standard Return Policy).
It’s also possible that a customer returned the Mac due to a defect, but that defect would have been fixed by Apple before the Mac could be resold. In fact, Apple states that: “Every Apple Certified Refurbished product undergoes a rigorous refurbishment process that includes comprehensive testing that meets the same functional standards as new Apple products. Your refurbished device is truly “like new”.
Additionally, every Mac:
- Will be carefully cleaned and inspected
- Includes Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty
- And up to 90 days of free technical support
- Comes with all accessories, cables and operating systems
- Comes packaged in a brand new white box
- Ships with free shipping and returns
- Can be purchased through financing options
- And can be delivered the next day
The important thing to note is that Macs purchased from the Apple Certified Refurbishment Store are not significantly different from new ones purchased directly from the Apple Store. All Macs purchased from the Refurbished Store are cleaned, checked, tested, and visually indistinguishable from brand-new models.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
Reasons not to buy refurbished Macs
As you can see, there are many good reasons to buy a refurbished Mac from Apple. Are there any disadvantages?
One downside is that buying a refurbished Mac will likely mean you’re not buying a current-generation model, although, as we’ve said before, it’s possible to find current-generation Macs on the Apple Refurbished Store, but not for at least half a month. one year after launch. Right now, the store is flooded with M1 and M2 series Macs, with a few older Intel-powered Macs lucking out into the depths of the store (if you actually want an Intel Mac, this is the best way to buy one, but first read: Should I Buy an Intel Mac).
The other downside to buying from Apple’s refurbished store is that they don’t always have the model you’re looking for. Since stock depends on the number of returns made or exchanged, Apple may have more of one item than another, which is when you may need to look to other retailers.
Another downside is that the discounts you get when shopping at the Apple Refurbished Store aren’t always as good as what you’d get if you bought the same model elsewhere. But buying from anyone other than Apple can be risky.
For example, you can get refurbished Macs on Amazon US and Amazon UK, but the majority of them tend to be old Macs and not models we recommend buying. There are various other places that sell refurbished Macs and MacBooks which we will review below. There are plenty of other places that will sell you a “refurbished” Mac, but not everyone does the same checks as Apple. Learn why we don’t recommend buying a used Mac if the Mac is not certified refurbished in Should I Buy a Used Mac?
Where to buy refurbished Macs
Apple isn’t the only company reselling refurbished used Macs. You can also purchase a refurbished and refurbished Mac from the resellers listed below:
In the USA:
The UK:
Buying refurbished, even if not from Apple, should mean that the Mac has been inspected by an authorized Apple technician and, if necessary, defective parts have been replaced (but we advise you to check this). Buying the same Mac used for less may seem appealing, but it’s not guaranteed to work. It’s worth paying a little extra for a refurbished model for added peace of mind. It’s like buying a car from a garage rather than from someone on Gumtree.
Just know that you don’t have to buy a refurbished Mac to get a good discount, it’s not equal. Amazon, for example, often offers discounts on previous generation Mac models, so you can purchase a relatively new model at a discount. The difference is that while Apple can sell a model that was returned due to a defect (which was repaired), the other reseller can sell an identical Mac that was never used.
If you’re looking to find a deal, check out our articles on the best iMac deals, best Mac mini deals, best MacBook Pro deals, and best MacBook Air deals to find the best discounts on new Macs and MacBooks. Make sure the model you find in Apple’s refurbished store isn’t being sold as new by someone else.
Best deals on the Apple Refurbished Store
Apple Refurbishment Deals in the US
Apple Refurbishment Deals in the UK
Again, it’s worth comparing if other retailers offer better prices for the same models when buying new. Amazon and other retailers often offer good discounts on new Macs. To find the best prices, see our offer summaries:
How much cheaper are refurbished Macs and MacBooks?
The price of refurbished Macs in the Apple Refurbished store changes frequently, but is typically 15% lower than the original price, as you can see from the prices listed above. With Macs selling at a high retail price, this can be quite a difference.
Keep in mind that stock is limited on refurbished Apple models, and you’re unlikely to find every style of Mac at all times. Other Mac retailers may offer even lower prices than the Apple Refurbished Store, so it’s worth shopping around, especially during sales events like Black Friday.
What is the oldest MacBook/Mac I should buy?
Apple
Apple
Apple
With the advent of new Apple chips, you need to think twice before buying an old Mac, because Macs with an Intel processor are likely to lose value much faster than Macs with Apple silicon. But with the first M1 MacBooks arriving in late 2020, there are plenty of older M1 and M2 models available to buy refurbished – you can even find M3 Macs. The question is: should you?
If you can afford it, we recommend sticking with models equipped with Apple’s M1 or M2 series chips, but if that’s too expensive for you, we suggest not buying a Mac more than seven years old. This is because older Macs may not run an Apple-supported version of macOS with security updates. Even if the Mac you buy now is supported by Apple, that might only be the case for a year or so. See: How long does Apple support Macs and MacBooks?
Here’s a look at the Macs that will run Ventura, launching in late 2023:
- MacBook models from 2017 or later
- MacBook Air models from 2018 or later
- MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later
- Mac mini models from 2018 or later
- iMac models from 2017 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro models from 2019 or later
- Mac Studio (all models)
We don’t yet know which Macs will be supported in the macOS Ventura sequel, but if you want a Mac that you can comfortably use three years from now, our recommendation is to not buy anything older than these models.
What should I do if I have a problem with a refurbished Mac?
If you buy from Apple, you’re in good hands. Apple states: “All Refurbished Mac models include full functional testing, genuine Apple parts replacements (if necessary), deep cleaning, original operating system or newer version, a brand new box with all accessories and cables. »
Most importantly, a refurbished Mac or MacBook comes with a one-year warranty (expandable to three years with AppleCare protection). You also get the same sales and returns process with Apple as any new model, so you can return a Mac purchased from the Refurbished Store within 14 days if you’re not satisfied with it. (But note that you will have to return it, as Apple will not accept returns to a physical Apple Store on refurbished products).
We don’t think you need to return your Mac. We have a lot of experience purchasing from Apple’s refurbished store and we have not yet purchased a Mac from the refurbished store and found it unsatisfactory.
Do you want to sell an old Mac? Here are our recommendations: how to sell a Mac or MacBook. You can also trade in your Mac to save money on a new one, including trading in your old Mac to Apple.