Apple create great computers , but they ’re not tacky . Even if you are happy to pay the debut cost for a new iMac or MacBook Pro , you may be painfully mindful that for just a few hundred Ezra Loomis Pound or dollar more you could get a much more powerful model . But can you justify the extra spend ?
Luckily you do n’t have to , because often you’re able to find oneself a previous contemporaries Mac and sometimes even the current multiplication model , on sale for less atApple ’s Certified Refurbished store . U.K. users will find their localApple certify Refurbished storehere .
It ’s not only Apple that proffer freshen up Macs though . There are other places you could buy used Macs that have been freshen up , but not all renovate Macs are as upright as the ones Apple sell , so you should mind of the pitfalls . Luckily we will be break away through the thing to head off in this article , so you’re able to be confident you will get the best refurbished Mac or MacBook for your needs .
Shop at Apple’s refurbished store to save money on a ‘new’ MacBook or Mac.
We ’ll also excuse what the Apple Certified Refurbished Store is , what price you’re able to expect to pay for a refurbished Mac or MacBook , and other means to bribe a tatty Mac . We ’re also highlighting some of the best refurbish Mac deals useable decent now .
Should you buy a refurbished Mac?
We have an clause dedicate to this question here : Why you should buy a refurbished Mac . But to summarize , there are lots of reasons why buying a Mac from theApple Certified Refurbished Storeis a good idea .
The Refurbished Store is a section on Apple ’s website where you may buy refurbished Macs and MacBooks , as well as other Apple products admit the iPhone , iPad , Apple Watch , HomePod and Apple TV .
These refurbished Macs could be model from a previous year , or they could be current models . A reconditioned Mac could be an ex - demo mannequin used during Apple teaching programs , or it could be a unit sold to a client who decided to bring back it under the stock sale - and - returns procedure . ( Apple allows any client to return a Mac bought from the Apple Store within 14 mean solar day for a refund . SeeApple ’s Standard Returns Policy U.S. andStandard Returns Policy U.K. ) .
Shop at Apple’s refurbished store to save money on a ‘new’ MacBook or Mac.
It ’s also possible that a client regress the Mac due to a shift , but that fault would have been rectified by Apple before the Mac could be resold . In fact , Apple put forward that : “ Every Apple evidence renovate intersection fill out a stringent refurbishment process that includes full testing that meets the same operative standards as new Apple products . Your freshen up twist is truly ‘ like new . ' ”
In gain , each Mac :
The crucial thing to note is that Macs bought from the Apple Certified Refurbished Store are not discernibly dissimilar from new one bought directly from the Apple Store . All Macs corrupt from the Refurbished Store are cleaned , check up on , tested , and visually indistinguishable from blade - unexampled models .
The old-style MacBook Air is one to avoid.
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Reasons not to buy refurbished Macs
As you could see there are plenty of estimable reasons to purchase a refurbished Mac from Apple . Are there any disadvantages ?
One disadvantage is that buying freshen up Mac will likely intend that you are n’t buying a current genesis model , although , as we have already said , it is potential to discover current coevals Macs on the Apple Refurbished Store , but not until at least half a class after launch . Right now the store is now flooded with M1 - series and M2 - serial Macs , with a few old Intel - power Macs lucking in the depths of the computer storage ( if you really want an Intel Mac this is the expert way to corrupt one , but first read : Should I buy an Intel Mac ) .
The other downside to buy from Apple ’s Refurbished Store is it may not always have the model you ’re after . Since the breed depends on the number of returns made or traded in , Apple may have more of one item than another , which is when you may require to turn to other retailers .
Another disadvantage is that the discounts you get from buying on the Apple Refurbished Store are n’t always as good as you would get if you bought the same manakin from somewhere else . But buying from someone other than Apple can be risky .
For exercise , you may get refurbish Macs onAmazon U.S.andon Amazon U.K. , but the majority of these tend to be old Macs and not models we would advocate buying . There are various other station that sell refurbished Macs and MacBooks that we will run through below . There are many other stead that will sell you a ‘ refurbish ’ Mac , but not everyone performs the same checks as Apple does . discover out why we do n’t urge buying a Mac second - hand if the Mac is n’t certified freshen up inShould I buy a used Mac ?
Where to buy refurbished Macs
Apple is n’t the only party to resell 2d - hand , refurbished Macs . You could also cull up a renovate and recondition Mac from resellers listed below :
In the U.S. :
In the U.K. :
Buying refurbished , even if it ’s not from Apple , should mean that the Mac has been inspect by an authoritative Apple technician and , if necessary , wrong division replaced ( but we advise that you check this ) . buy the same Mac second - bridge player for less might look attractive , but it ’s not guaranteed to work . It ’s worth paying a little special for a renovate model for peace of mind . It ’s like buying a railroad car from a service department rather than someone on Gumtree .
Just be cognisant that you do n’t have to corrupt a refurbished Mac to get a good deduction are not equal . Amazon , for example , often discounts previous - contemporaries Mac example , so you could buy a passably new modelat a discount . The difference is that while Apple could be selling a model that had been returned due to a fault ( which has been repaired ) , the other reseller could be selling an selfsame Mac that ’s never been used .
If you want to find a deal , check out our article about thebest iMac deal , expert Mac miniskirt deal , the best MacBook Pro passel , and thebest MacBook Air dealsto search for the good discounts on novel Macs and MacBooks . verify that the model that you discover on Apple ’s Refurbished Store is n’t being sell as unexampled by someone else .
Best deals on the Apple Refurbished Store
U.S. Apple refurbished deals
U.K. Apple refurbished deals
Again , it ’s deserving comparing whether other retailers are offering well prices for the same model when buying young . Amazon and other stockist often have good discount on fresh Macs . To chance the right prices have a look at our flock pear-shaped - ups :
How much cheaper are refurbished Macs and MacBooks?
The price for reconditioned Macs on Apple ’s Refurbished Store exchange frequently , but is typically 15 percent less than the original price , as you may see from the prices quoted above . With Macs overtop a high retail price , this can be quite a significant difference .
Keep in mind that stock is limited on refurbished models from Apple , and you ’re unlikely to find every style of Mac at all clock time . Other Mac resellers might offer even lower prices than the Apple Refurbished Store , so it ’s worth shopping around – particularly during sales events likeBlack Friday .
What’s the oldest MacBook/Mac I should buy?
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With the arrival of the new Apple chips you desire to think carefully before grease one’s palms an old Mac because Intel - power Macs are potential to lose value much quicker than Macs with Apple atomic number 14 within . But with the first M1 MacBooks get at the end of 2020 there are plenty of previous M1 , and M2 manikin useable to buy refurbished – you could even regain M3 Macs . The dubiousness is should you ?
If you could afford to we urge sticking to modeling with Apple M1- or M2 - series chips , but if that ’s too expensive for you we would evoke that you do n’t corrupt a Mac that is more than seven years erstwhile . This is because old Macs may not run a version of macOS that Apple supports with security updates . Even if the Mac you buy now is patronage by Apple it may only be the subject for a year or so . See : How long does Apple defend Macs and MacBooks ?
Here ’s an overview of theMacs that will run Venturawhich plunge in late 2023 :
We do n’t yet bang what Macs will be underpin by thefollow - up to macOS Ventura , but if you desire a Mac you may well apply in three years from our testimonial is do n’t buy anything quondam than these model .
What if I have a problem with a refurbished Mac?
If you buy from Apple you are in near hands . Apple express : “ All Refurbished Mac model admit full functional testing , genuine Apple part replacements ( if necessary ) , a thorough cleaning , the original Operating System or a more late interlingual rendition , a brand unexampled box with all accessories and cables . ”
More importantly , a reconditioned Mac or MacBook fall with a one - year warranty ( extendable to three year with AppleCare shelter ) . You also get the same gross revenue and return routine with Apple as you would with any newfangled theoretical account , so you could take back a Mac bought from the Refurbished Store within 14 days if you ’re not glad with it . ( But note you ’ll have to post it back , as Apple will not accept returns to a forcible Apple Store on refurbished products ) .
Not that we recollect you will demand to return your Mac . We have plenty of experience buying from Apple ’s Refurbished Store and have yet to pluck up a Mac from the Refurbished Store and regain it want .
Want to sell an sometime Mac ? Here are our recommendation : How to sell a Mac or MacBook . you may alsotrade in your Mac to save up money on a young one , includingtrading in your old Mac at Apple .
