Summary
- > Buy a refurbished Mac on Apple
- > The price difference between refurbished and new Macs
- > What to do in case of problems with a refurbished Mac?
- > Where to buy used or refurbished Macs?
Apple makes great computers, but they are rarely affordable. Indeed, whether entry or top-of-the-range models, they are sold for more than €1 by the brand. It's a significant expense, even for the busiest purses.
Fortunately, to avoid paying the full price, you can also find these devices, cheaper, on resale sites, especially since Apple released its new Silicon range. Thus, you will benefit from many discounts on earlier models.
If you are considering buying a particular Mac and have a limited budget, we recommend that you go to the Apple Refurbished Store or another specialized resale platform.
Buy a refurbished Mac from Apple
There are many reasons to buy a refurbished Mac through Apple's Refurbished service.
Refurbished Macs can be from the previous year, current models, or demonstrated in Apple's education programs. It is also possible that they were returned by a customer.
If it is faulty, then it goes through a remanufacturing process, with extensive testing to the same functional standards as new Apple products.
So each Mac will be:
- Cleaned and inspected.
- Backed by Apple's standard one-year warranty with up to 90 days of free technical support.
- Comes with all accessories, cables and operating systems.
- Carefully packaged.
- Available with financing options
- Next day dispatch with free return
Despite these good points, are there any downsides to getting a Mac through the Apple Refurbished Store?
Let's say that the discounts are not always as interesting as those obtained by buying the same model new on another platform.
For example, if Apple sells refurbished devices, another retailer may offer Macs that have never been used, but still at a reduced price.
The price difference between refurbished and new Macs
The price of refurbished Macs on the Apple Refurbished Store changes frequently but is usually 15% less than the original price, which can be a significant difference.
A 13,3-inch MacBook Air with 256 GB of storage, for example, is available on the Refurbished Store for €784 instead of €1. This is a saving of €069 compared to its original price.
Keep in mind that Apple stocks are limited and there is no guarantee that you will find the version you are looking for.
Other refurbished Mac resellers, such as Amazon, Back Market or le Bon coin, offer even lower prices.
It is also a good idea to shop around, especially during trade events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday or French Days.
With the arrival of the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air M1, there are even more deals on the used market.
However, we suggest you stick to models released after 2012, and preferably in 2015, especially if you want to take advantage of the BigSur operating system.
Moreover, Apple usually supports its devices for about ten years.
Here is an overview of the Macs compatible with Big Sur:
- MacBook 2015 or later
- MacBook Air from 2013 or later
- MacBook Pro 2013 or later
- Mac mini 2014 or later
- iMac 2014 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro 2013 or later
What should I do if I have problems with a refurbished Mac?
Apple has stated that all refurbished Mac models include full functional testing, replacement of genuine Apple parts (if necessary), full cleaning, installation of a genuine operating system, or newer version and a new box with all accessories and cables.
More importantly, Apple products come with a one-year warranty, extendable to three years with AppleCare protection. You will also benefit from the same return procedure with Apple, so you can return your Mac within 14 days.
Where to buy used or refurbished Macs?
As we've already touched on, Apple isn't the only company selling refurbished used Macs.
With Amazon Renewed, get access to checked and tested products that work like new. They are covered by a one-year warranty and can be returned if you are not satisfied with them.
BackMarket is another service that specializes in refurbishing. It performs full examinations, cleans the device, resets it, etc.
Finally, you can also go through e-merchants:
- Macway
- Baker
- Rakuten
- Fnac
- Ticketmaster
- eBay
Keep in mind that while buying a second-hand Mac at a lower cost may seem attractive, it's not always guaranteed to work. So, beware, scams exist...
Recommended articles:
- Where to buy a used or refurbished iPhone?
- How to sell new and used devices or gadgets?
- How to sell your old iPhone?
- How to recycle an "old" mobile phone?
