Apple makes nice computer systems, however they’re not low-cost. Even if you’re pleased to pay the entry value for a brand new iMac or MacBook Professional, chances are you’ll be painfully conscious that for only a few hundred kilos or {dollars} extra you could possibly get a way more highly effective mannequin. However are you able to justify the additional spend?
Fortunately you don’t must, as a result of typically you will discover a earlier technology Mac and generally 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 purchase used Macs which were refurbished, however not all refurbished Macs are nearly as good as those Apple sells, so you need to watch out for the pitfalls. Fortunately we will probably be working by way of the issues to keep away from on this article, so that you might be assured you’re going to get the most effective refurbished Mac or MacBook to your wants.
We’ll additionally clarify what the Apple Licensed Refurbished Retailer is, what value you may count on to pay for a refurbished Mac or MacBook, and different methods to purchase an inexpensive Mac. We’re additionally highlighting a number of the greatest refurbished Mac offers out there proper now.
Ought to you purchase a refurbished Mac?
We now have an article devoted to this query right here: Why you should 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 purchase refurbished Macs and MacBooks, in addition to different Apple merchandise together with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod and Apple TV.
These refurbished Macs may very well be fashions from a earlier yr, or they may very well be present fashions. A reconditioned Mac may very well be an ex-demonstration mannequin used throughout Apple instructing applications, or it may very well be a unit offered 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 Normal Returns Coverage U.S. and Normal Returns Coverage U.Ok.).
It’s additionally attainable {that a} buyer returned the Mac because of a fault, however that fault would have been rectified by Apple earlier than the Mac may very well be resold. In actual fact, Apple states that: “Each Apple Licensed Refurbished product completes a rigorous refurbishment course of that features full testing that meets the identical useful requirements as new Apple merchandise. Your refurbished system is really ‘like new.’”
As well as, every Mac:
- Will likely be completely cleaned and inspected
- Consists of Apple’s commonplace one-year restricted guarantee
- And as much as 90 days of complimentary technical help
- Comes with all equipment, cables, and working techniques
- Is packaged in a brand-new white field
- Is dispatched with free transport and returns
- Might be bought by way of financing choices
- And might be delivered subsequent day
The necessary factor to notice is that Macs purchased from the Apple Licensed Refurbished Retailer aren’t discernibly completely different from new ones purchased instantly 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 now we have already stated, it’s attainable to seek out present technology Macs on the Apple Refurbished Retailer, however not till at the very least half a yr after launch. Proper now the shop is now flooded with M1-series and M2-series Macs, with a number of older Intel-powered Macs lucking within the depths of the shop (in case you 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 might not at all times have the mannequin you’re after. Because the inventory will depend on the variety of returns made or traded in, Apple might have extra of 1 merchandise than one other, which is when chances are you’ll 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 at all times nearly as good as you’d get in case you purchased the identical mannequin from some other place. However shopping for from somebody apart from Apple might be dangerous.
For instance, you will get refurbished Macs on Amazon U.S. and on Amazon U.Ok., however the majority of those are usually outdated Macs and never fashions we’d advocate shopping for. There are numerous different locations that promote refurbished Macs and MacBooks that we’ll run by way of beneath. There are lots of different locations that may promote you a ‘refurbished’ Mac, however not everybody performs the identical checks as Apple does. Discover out why we don’t advocate 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 would additionally decide up a refurbished and reconditioned Mac from resellers listed beneath:
Within the U.S.:
Within the U.Ok.:
Shopping for refurbished, even when it’s not from Apple, ought to imply that the Mac has been inspected by a certified Apple technician and, if essential, defective elements changed (however we advise that you simply test this). Shopping for the identical Mac second-hand for much less would possibly look enticing, nevertheless it’s not assured to work. It’s value paying a bit of further for a refurbished mannequin for peace of thoughts. It’s like shopping for a automotive 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 aren’t equal. Amazon, for instance, typically reductions previous-generation Mac fashions, so you could possibly purchase a reasonably new mannequin at a reduction. The distinction is that whereas Apple may very well be promoting a mannequin that had been returned because of a fault (which has been repaired), the opposite reseller may very well be promoting an an identical Mac that’s by no means been used.
If you wish to discover a deal, take a look at our articles in regards to the greatest iMac offers, greatest Mac mini offers, the most effective MacBook Professional offers, and the greatest MacBook Air offers to search for the most effective reductions on new Macs and MacBooks. Guarantee that the mannequin that you simply discover on Apple’s Refurbished Retailer isn’t being offered as new by another person.
Greatest offers on the Apple Refurbished Retailer
U.S. Apple refurbished offers
U.Ok. 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 typically have good reductions on new Macs. To search out the most effective 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 adjustments continuously, however is usually 15 % 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 big distinction.
Remember that inventory is restricted on refurbished fashions from Apple, and also you’re unlikely to seek out each fashion of Mac always. Different Mac resellers would possibly provide even decrease costs than the Apple Refurbished Retailer, so it’s value purchasing round – significantly throughout gross sales occasions like Black Friday.
What’s the oldest MacBook/Mac I can purchase?
Apple
Apple
Apple
With the arrival of the brand new Apple chips you need to think twice earlier than shopping for an outdated Mac as a result of Intel-powered Macs are prone 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 that can be purchased refurbished–you may even discover M3 Macs. The query is must you?
If you happen to can afford to we advocate sticking to fashions with Apple M1- or M2-series chips, but when that’s too costly for you we’d counsel that you simply don’t purchase a Mac that’s greater than seven years outdated. It is because older Macs might 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 might solely be the case for a yr or so. See: How lengthy does Apple help Macs and MacBooks?
Right here’s an summary of the Macs that may 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 probably 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?
If you happen to purchase from Apple you’re in good fingers. Apple states: “All Refurbished Mac fashions embrace full useful testing, real Apple half replacements (if essential), an intensive 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 in case you’re not pleased with it. (However notice you’ll must publish 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 now have loads of expertise shopping for from Apple’s Refurbished Retailer and have but to choose up a Mac from the Refurbished Retailer and discover it wanting.
Wish to promote an outdated Mac? Listed here are our suggestions: Find out how to promote a Mac or MacBook. You can too commerce in your Mac to save cash on a brand new one, together with buying and selling in your outdated Mac at Apple.