Apple makes great computers, but they don’t come cheap. Even if you’re happy to pay the entry price for a new iMac or MacBook Pro, you may painfully know that for just a few hundred pounds or dollars more, you could get a much more powerful model. But can you justify the extra expense?
Luckily, you don’t have to, because you can often find a previous-generation Mac, and sometimes even the current-generation model, on sale for less in the Apple Refurbished and Clearance Store.
It’s not just Apple that offers 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 beware of the pitfalls. Luckily, we’ll go over things to avoid in this article, so you can be sure you’re getting the best refurbished Mac or MacBook for your needs.
We’ll also explain what the refurbished Apple Store is, what price you can expect to pay for a refurbished Mac or MacBook, and other ways to buy a cheap Mac. We also highlight 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 buy a refurbished Mac. But to sum up, there are many reasons why buying a refurbished Mac from the Apple Store is a good idea.
The Refurbished Store is a section of the Apple website where you can purchase 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 education programs, or it may be a unit sold to a customer who has decided to return it as part of the standard sales and feedback. (Apple allows any customer to return a Mac purchased from the Apple Store within 14 days for a refund – see Apple’s standard return policy in the US and standard return policy in the UK).
It’s also possible that a customer returned the Mac due to a defect, but that defect would have been corrected by Apple before the Mac could be resold. In fact, Apple states that: “Every Apple Certified Refurbished product follows a rigorous refurbishment process that includes extensive testing that meets the same functional standards as new Apple products. Your refurbished device is truly “like new”.
Additionally, each Mac:
- Will be thoroughly 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 refurbished Macs purchased from the Apple Store are not significantly different from new ones purchased directly from the Apple Store. All refurbished Macs purchased from the Apple Store are cleaned, checked, tested, and visually indistinguishable from brand-new models.
Foundry
Reasons not to buy a refurbished Mac
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-gen model, although, as we’ve said before, it’s possible to find current-gen Macs on the refurbished Apple Store, but not for at least half a year after launch. Right now the store is now flooded with M1-series and M2-series Macs, with a few older Intel-powered Macs lucking out in the depths of the store (if you actually want an Intel Mac, c is the best way to buy one, but first read: Should I buy an Intel Mac). As of May 2023, we’ve yet to see an M2 Pro or M2 Max model on sale.
The other downside to buying from Apple’s refurbished store is that it doesn’t always have the model you’re looking for. Since stock depends on the number of returns or exchanges made, 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 buying from the refurbished Apple Store aren’t always as good as buying the same model elsewhere. But buying from someone 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 the models we recommend buying. There are various other places that sell refurbished Macs and MacBooks which we’ll go through below. There are plenty of other places that will sell you a “refurbished” Mac, but not everyone does the same checks Apple does. Find out why we don’t recommend buying a used Mac if the Mac isn’t 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 get a refurbished and refurbished Mac from the retailers listed below:
In the USA:
The UK:
Purchasing a refurbished product, even if it’s not from Apple, should mean that the Mac has been inspected by an Apple-authorized technician and, if necessary, defective parts have been replaced (but we advise you to check this). Buying the same used Mac for less might sound appealing, but it’s not guaranteed to work. It’s worth paying a little extra for a refurbished model for peace of mind. It’s like buying a car from a garage instead of someone on Gumtree.
Just know that you don’t have to buy a refurbished Mac to get a good discount. Amazon, for example, often discounts previous generation Mac models, so you can pick up a relatively new model at a discount. The difference is that while Apple may sell a model that was returned due to a defect (which has been repaired), the other reseller may sell an identical Mac that has never been used.
If you want to find a deal, check out our articles on the best iMac deals, the best Mac mini deals, the best MacBook Pro deals, and the best MacBook Air deals to find the best discounts on new Macs and MacBooks. Make sure the model you find on Apple’s refurbished store is not sold as new by someone else.
Best Deals on the Refurbished Apple Store
Now that the M1-series Macs have been out for a while, they appear regularly on the refurbished Apple Store, with massive discounts.
Apple Refurbished Deals in the US
Apple Refurbished UK Deals
Again, it’s worth comparing if other retailers offer better prices for the same models when buying new. Amazon and other resellers often offer good discounts on new Macs. To find the best prices, take a look at our promotions:
How much cheaper are refurbished Macs and MacBooks?
The price of refurbished Macs on Apple’s refurbished store changes frequently, but it’s usually 15% less than the original price, as you can see from the prices listed above. Since Macs have a high selling price, this can be quite a difference.
Keep in mind that stock is limited on Apple’s refurbished models, and you’re unlikely to find every style of Mac at all times. Other Mac retailers may offer even lower prices than the refurbished Apple Store, so it’s worth shopping around, especially during sales events like Black Friday.
What’s the oldest MacBook/Mac I should buy?
Apple
With the arrival of new Apple chips, you need to think carefully before buying an old Mac, because Macs with Intel are likely to lose value much faster than Macs with Apple silicon. But with the arrival of the first M1 MacBooks in late 2020, many M1 and even older M2 models are available for purchase refurbished. The question is should you?
If you can afford it, we recommend sticking to models with Apple M1 or M2 chips, but if that’s too expensive for you, we suggest you don’t buy a Mac that’s more than seven years old. This is because older Macs may not be running a version of macOS supported by Apple with security updates. Even if the Mac you buy now is supported by Apple, it might only be for about a year. See: How long does Apple support Macs and MacBooks?
Here’s a look at the Macs that will run Ventura which launched in late 2023:
- 2017 or later MacBook models
- 2018 or later MacBook Air models
- 2017 or later MacBook Pro models
- Mac mini models from 2018 or later
- 2017 or later iMac models
- 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 by the macOS Ventura follow-on, but if you want a Mac you can comfortably use three years from now, our recommendation is not to buy anything older than these models.
What if I have a problem with a refurbished Mac?
If you buy from Apple, you are in good hands. Apple states, “All refurbished Mac models include full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary), thorough cleaning, original operating system or newer version, a brand new box with all accessories and cables.”
More 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 you would with any new model, so you can return a refurbished Mac purchased from the store within 14 days if you’re not satisfied. . (But note that you will need to send it back, as Apple will not accept returns to a physical Apple Store on refurbished products).
Not that we think you’ll have to return your Mac. We have plenty of experience buying from Apple’s refurbished store and have yet to pick up a Mac from the refurbished store and found it lacking.
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.
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