Anything newer is extremely difficult to find.Īntonio Masiello/Getty Images Buying from AppleĪpple's Refurbished shop is the place to go if you want to buy a refurbished Mac straight from the manufacturer. The greatest range of products, then, will probably be between one and two years old. When they do, they're quickly snapped up. Typically, new products are on the market for at least a few months before any refurbished models appear. It's a great instant-discount option when shopping for a new Mac.Ī caveat applies, however, in that it's unusual to find current-generation Macs that have been refurbished, given that they likely haven't been returned. The store offers the highest quality, so you're essentially getting a machine that barely differs from its on-the-shelf counterpart. Trained professionals ensure every device functions properly before putting it up for sale. A used Mac sold by a stranger may end up costing you more in the end.Īpple manages its own refurbished store, complete with its Certified Refurbished designation. However, refurbished Macs are often just as good as new ones, saving you money. In both cases, the Mac is sold at a discount. Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a dealership. Any malfunctioning parts are replaced, the product is tested to ensure everything works, and it's repackaged for resale. The Mac is still pre-owned, but it was returned to a professional because of an issue or traded in for a newer model. You really don't know what you're getting into problem-wise until you fire it up and after your wallet is drained.

Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a stranger. With the latter, owners are simply reselling their Mac with any existing problems it may have.

Fitbit Versa 3īuying a refurbished Mac is different than buying a used, resold one.

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