
UsedĪ laptop being sold simply as “used” carries all of the same potential dangers as a refurbished computer, but with even less of a guarantee that it will work properly once it lands on your desk. Carefully prepped following a number of designated steps (which we’ll discuss in further detail below), renewed Macs promise years of enjoyment for their new user. Renewed laptops, on the other hand, represent the best in tested and certified used laptops available for resale. And while a seller of certified refurbished computers may have done a great job replacing all of the damaged parts, the model could still show signs of damage (think scratches, dings and more) and it may still have undetectable damage that wasn’t repaired. To put it simply: refurbished computers may have been previously damaged in some way. The difference between renewed vs refurbished computers is subtle but very important. Both of these options can save you money in the short-term, but you may not know exactly what you’re getting.

If you’re looking to save money on a MacBook for school, business or personal use, you may be considering buying one used through a marketplace ad online, or even buying a refurbished computer from an online or brick-and-mortar retailer. In this article, we’ll dive into the differences between the three, and will discuss why buying a used mac that has been renewed by a trusted seller is always the best option. So how can you tell that you are getting a computer that will function as powerfully as you need it to for as long as you’d like it to ? It starts by understanding the common terms used by Apple resellers: renewed, refurbished and used. And even though used Apple computers are deemed to be some of the most reliable on the market, they may have problems if they haven’t been properly renewed (or haven’t been renewed at all - as can be the case if you buy a laptop simply labeled “used,” but we’ll dive deeper into that in a minute) or if they come from a seller with a less-than-perfect reputation.
After all, many hesitate to jump into the world of buying used laptops because it can be difficult to tell exactly what you are going to get. If you’re a first-time buyer of a used MacBook, used MacBook Pro, used MacBook Air or other used computer, it can be difficult to know where to start.
