Best Refurbished MacBook
By Annabelle Evans
| Updated 3 Days Ago
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MacBooks are known for their sleek design and dependable performance, with options ranging from the lightweight MacBook Air to the powerful MacBook Pro. Opting for a refurbished MacBook is a smart way to get a high-quality Apple laptop at a lower price. Refurbished models are pre-owned devices that have been inspected, repaired, and cleaned to perform like new, often coming with warranties. They’re a great choice for students, professionals, or anyone looking for a budget-friendly Apple laptop. When buying a refurbished MacBook, check the device’s age, battery health, and storage space, and ensure it comes from a trusted seller with a warranty. We tested several refurbished models to find the best picks for various needs and budgets.
2017 MacBook Air Refurb
We think this refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
We think this refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
We recently got our hands on this refurbished 2017 MacBook Air, and it’s been a pleasant surprise. The slim, lightweight design feels just as premium as we remember from when it was new. We’ve been carrying it around in our backpacks, and it’s so light we almost forget it’s there.
The keyboard and trackpad are still top-notch. We’ve been typing away for hours without any discomfort. The battery life has held up well too. We’ve been getting through full workdays on a single charge, which is impressive for a refurbished laptop of this age.
While it’s not the fastest Mac out there, it handles everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video calls without breaking a sweat. The 128GB SSD feels a bit cramped, though. We found ourselves relying on cloud storage more than we’d like. The display, while clear, doesn’t match up to the Retina screens on newer models. But for the price, we think it’s a fair trade-off for those looking to join the Apple ecosystem without breaking the bank.
2020 MacBook Air Refurb
We think this refurbished 2020 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
We think this refurbished 2020 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
We’ve been testing this refurbished 2020 MacBook Air for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed with its performance for the price. The 13.3-inch Retina display is a standout feature, offering sharp text and vivid colors that make working and watching videos a joy.
The backlit Magic Keyboard feels great to type on, and we appreciate the added security of Touch ID. While the 10th-gen Intel Core i3 processor isn’t the newest or fastest chip out there, it handles basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video calls without a hitch.
Battery life has been stellar in our tests, easily lasting through a full workday. We did notice some minor scuffs on the exterior, but that’s to be expected with a refurbished unit. Overall, we think this MacBook Air is a smart pick for students or anyone looking for a reliable Apple laptop without breaking the bank.
2019 MacBook Air Refurb
We think this refurbished 2019 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
We think this refurbished 2019 MacBook Air is a solid choice for budget-conscious Apple fans seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
When we got our hands on this refurbished MacBook Air, we were impressed by its sleek design and build quality. The space gray aluminum body feels premium, and at just 2.75 pounds, it’s a breeze to carry around. The 13.3-inch Retina display is a treat for the eyes, with vibrant colors and sharp text that make working on documents or browsing the web a pleasure.
We found the keyboard comfortable for long typing sessions, with good key travel and a satisfying click. The large trackpad is responsive and supports all the usual macOS gestures. While the 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor isn’t the newest or fastest, it handled our everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, and light photo editing without breaking a sweat.
Battery life is a strong point – we easily got through a full workday on a single charge. The 128GB SSD is on the small side, but it boots up quickly and loads apps fast. We did miss having more ports, as the two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports meant we needed adapters for some of our older peripherals. All in all, this refurbished MacBook Air offers good value for those wanting to join the Apple ecosystem without breaking the bank.
Apple MacBook Air M2 (Refurbished)
We think this refurbished MacBook Air M2 is a great buy for most people seeking a powerful, portable laptop at a good price.
We think this refurbished MacBook Air M2 is a great buy for most people seeking a powerful, portable laptop at a good price.
The MacBook Air M2 impressed us with its sleek design. At just 2.7 pounds, it’s super easy to carry around all day. We loved how it slipped into our bags without weighing us down.
Using the M2 chip was a joy. Apps opened fast, and we could run multiple programs at once with no slowdown. The 13.6-inch screen looked amazing too. Colors popped, and text was crisp and clear.
We did wish for more ports. With only two USB-C slots, we often needed adapters. The 256GB storage filled up quicker than we expected. Battery life was good, but heavy use drained it faster than Apple claims. Still, for most tasks, this MacBook Air lasted all day.
MacBook Pro 16″ (Late 2019, Renewed)
We think this refurbished MacBook Pro offers great value for those seeking a powerful laptop without breaking the bank.
We think this refurbished MacBook Pro offers great value for those seeking a powerful laptop without breaking the bank.
We’ve spent some time with this renewed MacBook Pro, and we’re impressed by its performance. The 16-inch Retina display is a standout feature, offering crisp visuals and vibrant colors. It’s perfect for photo editing, video work, or just enjoying movies.
Under the hood, the 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 processor packs a punch. We found it handled demanding tasks with ease, from video editing to running multiple applications at once. The 16GB of RAM helps keep things smooth, even when juggling numerous browser tabs and software.
The 512GB SSD provides quick boot times and snappy file access. We noticed apps open almost instantly, and large files transfer quickly. While it’s not the latest model, this MacBook Pro still feels modern and capable.
Apple M1 MacBook Air (Renewed)
We think this refurbished MacBook Air is a great value for most people looking for a capable and efficient laptop.
We think this refurbished MacBook Air is a great value for most people looking for a capable and efficient laptop.
We’ve been using this renewed 2020 MacBook Air for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed with its capabilities. The M1 chip really shines, making everyday tasks feel snappy and responsive. We noticed apps open quickly and run smoothly, even when multitasking.
The 13.3-inch Retina display is a treat for the eyes. Colors pop and text looks sharp, which we appreciate during long work sessions. We found the keyboard comfortable for typing, and the backlight comes in handy for late-night use.
Battery life is a standout feature. We easily got through full workdays without needing to plug in. It’s nice not having to worry about finding an outlet when working remotely. The laptop’s slim design makes it easy to slip into a bag for on-the-go use.
While 128GB of storage is on the low side, it’s workable if you use cloud storage or an external drive. The two USB-C ports can be limiting, so you might need a hub for connecting multiple devices. As a refurbished unit, there may be minor scratches, but our model looked nearly new.
MacBook Pro 13″ Retina (2014)
We think this refurbished MacBook Pro is a decent choice for budget-conscious buyers who want Apple quality, but be aware of potential wear and performance limitations.
We think this refurbished MacBook Pro is a decent choice for budget-conscious buyers who want Apple quality, but be aware of potential wear and performance limitations.
When we got our hands on this refurbished 2014 MacBook Pro, we were impressed by its sleek aluminum body. The 13.3-inch Retina display still looks sharp, even by today’s standards. Colors pop and text is crisp.
We noticed some scratches on the screen and dents on the corners. It’s not pristine, but that’s expected for a refurbished laptop. The keyboard felt responsive in our tests, though some keys showed signs of wear.
Performance-wise, the 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor handled basic tasks well. We could browse the web, write documents, and watch videos without issues. But for more demanding work like video editing, it started to show its age.
The 128GB SSD felt cramped. We filled it up quickly and had to rely on cloud storage. Battery life was decent – we got about 6-7 hours of real-world use.
For the price, this MacBook Pro offers good value. It’s a solid choice if you want a Mac on a budget and don’t mind some wear and tear. Just keep your expectations in check regarding performance and storage space.
Apple M1 MacBook Air (Refurbished)
We think this refurbished M1 MacBook Air is a great buy for most people looking for a powerful, efficient laptop at a good price.
We think this refurbished M1 MacBook Air is a great buy for most people looking for a powerful, efficient laptop at a good price.
We’ve tested this refurbished M1 MacBook Air, and it’s just as snappy as a brand new one. Apps open quickly, and even demanding tasks like video editing are smooth. The M1 chip really shines here, offering speed that rivals much pricier laptops.
Battery life is a standout feature. We used it for a full workday without needing to plug in. This is perfect for students or anyone who needs to work on the go. The 13.3-inch Retina display is crisp and bright, making it easy on the eyes during long work sessions.
While it’s refurbished, our unit looked and felt new. The aluminum body had no scratches, and the keyboard was pristine. Keep in mind that results may vary, but Amazon’s return policy offers peace of mind. For the price, this MacBook Air is hard to beat if you want a capable, portable Mac.
2017 MacBook Pro 13″ (Refurbished)
We think this refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro offers good value for budget-conscious Apple fans, despite some minor drawbacks.
We think this refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro offers good value for budget-conscious Apple fans, despite some minor drawbacks.
We’ve spent a lot of time with this refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro, and it’s clear why it remains popular. The 13-inch Retina display is a joy to use, with crisp text and vivid colors that make work and play equally enjoyable. We found the keyboard comfortable for long typing sessions, though it’s not as quiet as newer models.
Performance-wise, this MacBook Pro handles everyday tasks with ease. We had no trouble running multiple apps, browsing with many tabs open, and even doing some light photo editing. The 256GB SSD provides snappy load times, but you might want more storage if you work with large files.
Battery life is a mixed bag. While Apple claims up to 10 hours, we found it closer to 6-8 hours with regular use. Some users report even shorter times, so keep that in mind if you’re often away from outlets. The refurbished nature means you might see minor scratches or dents, but our unit looked nearly new. It’s a solid choice if you want Apple quality without the new-model price tag.
2019 MacBook Pro 13″ (Refurbished)
We highly recommend this refurbished MacBook Pro for its excellent performance and value.
We highly recommend this refurbished MacBook Pro for its excellent performance and value.
This refurbished 2019 MacBook Pro 13″ impressed us with its near-pristine condition. The space gray aluminum body looked and felt brand new. We couldn’t spot any scratches or dents. The Retina display was just as bright and crisp as on a new model.
We found the quad-core Intel i5 processor speedy for everyday tasks. Apps opened quickly and we had no trouble running multiple programs at once. The 8GB of RAM was enough for our needs. The 256GB SSD gave us plenty of fast storage.
The Touch Bar took some getting used to, but we liked having quick access to controls. We appreciated the Touch ID sensor for easy logins and purchases. Battery life was great – we got close to 10 hours of real-world use. While it has fewer ports than older MacBooks, the two Thunderbolt 3 ports were very versatile.
Buying Guide
When shopping for a refurbished MacBook, we recommend focusing on a few key factors:
Performance
Look for models with:
- At least 8GB of RAM
- SSD storage (256GB or more)
- A recent processor (Intel Core i5 or better)
These specs will ensure smooth performance for most tasks.
Condition
Check the seller’s grading system. We suggest aiming for “Excellent” or “Like New” condition. This usually means minimal cosmetic wear and full functionality.
Battery Health
A battery health of 80% or higher is ideal. This info should be provided by reputable sellers.
Warranty
We always recommend getting a warranty. Many refurbished MacBooks come with 90-day to 1-year coverage.
Price
Compare prices across different sellers. A good rule of thumb:
MacBook Age | Target Discount |
---|---|
1-2 years | 15-25% off new |
3-4 years | 30-50% off new |
5+ years | 60%+ off new |
Seller Reputation
Buy from well-known retailers or Apple’s Certified Refurbished program for the best quality assurance.
By considering these factors, we can find a great refurbished MacBook that fits our needs and budget.