Buying a laptop can be somewhat expensive, so you need to be wise about your purchase. However, do you need to spend absurd amounts of money on a new laptop when you can buy a refurbished one?
Even when it’s an entry-level laptop, buying new isn’t always the most budget-friendly, nor is it the best option. What if we told you that you could get a good-quality, high-performance laptop and pay a fraction of the price? Well, it’s possible when you purchase a refurbished laptop.
What are refurbished laptops?
When people hear the word “refurbished,” they tend to associate it with negative connotations. As a result, when people hear refurbished laptops, they tend to steer clear of them. Unfortunately, this is a misconception. The term “refurbished” simply means that the product has been used before but has now been repaired and recertified to be sold again.
A refurbished laptop has been fully repaired and restored, cleaned, and tested to ensure that it is fit to resell. Most refurbished laptops also come with a warranty. Unlike purchasing a secondhand used laptop, a refurbished laptop will be restored to function as if it were new, but it will sell at a more affordable price.
The benefits of buying refurbished laptops
We can’t deny that buying new has its pros. For instance, you’ll have a brand-new laptop that’s never been used. That provides you with a degree of comfort, knowing that it’ll work and function for you for the next few years. But refurbished laptops also have their own benefits:
- Refurbished laptops usually cost on average, 20% to 50% less than you’d pay for a new laptop of the same specifications
- Because they’ve been refurbished, you’re assured that you’ll get a good-quality laptop. Especially if you purchase from a reputable company
- By purchasing a refurbished laptop, you’re reducing electronic waste. Laptops that are thrown out and never used all go into a landfill
- You might have access to older technology that isn’t on the market anymore
- You can purchase a laptop with higher specs for the same price as a lower-spec laptop brand new
What to consider when buying a refurbished laptop
These are only some of the benefits of buying a laptop that’s been refurbished. However, before you go out and get a laptop, here are some questions you may want to ask:
1. What was done to the laptop?
Another thing that’s given refurbished laptops a bad name is that many retailers slap the name “refurbished” on second-hand laptops that haven’t been refurbished at all. Then, a customer buys it and all the issues that have come along with it.
To avoid this, ask the retailer what they refurbished in the laptop to get into a resellable condition. Now, you might not be able to do this through main brands like Apple or Dell. But, if you’re purchasing from a third-party computer store, finding out what they changed in the laptop would give you a good idea of whether it’s really been refurbished or not. This leads us to our next point
2. Where to get a refurbished laptop from?
There are a few places you can get a refurbished laptop from. A computer store or the original manufacturer. Now, both places can offer you good-quality refurbished laptops for decent prices, but you want to be careful when buying from computer shops. Be sure to check their credentials and the quality of the laptop you’re buying before doing so.
Buying from the manufacturer is ideal because you have the guarantee that the laptop you’re getting has been refurbished properly. In most cases, laptops that the manufacturer refurbished were sent back because of a factory fault or traded in. They’re fixed up and made ready to sell. If you are looking for refurbished laptops, find deals on refurbished Dell laptops here.
3. What warranty does it have?
A reputable company that sells refurbished laptops will always offer you a warranty with it. Try looking for a laptop that has a decent warranty at least between 6 months to a year. Having a warranty just gives you a hedge of protection in case anything goes wrong with the laptop during that period. At least you’d be able to send it back for repairs or for it to be replaced.
4. What condition is it in?
Aside from asking about the changes made to the laptop, you also should check it yourself. If you’re buying online from a manufacturer or retailer, you shouldn’t need to do this, as you’d be able to send it back if anything was misleading about its pictures. However, if you’re making an in-store purchase, then this gives you a chance to check the laptop’s body for scratches and signs of damage. Likewise, you could run the laptop to see that everything is working fine, too.
5. How old is it?
Lastly, you don’t want to buy a refurbished laptop that’s going to be so out of date that you’ll need to purchase a new one in a year. Check the year and model of the laptop and consider how long it’ll be until that laptop is considered out of date. For example, while old Macbook Pros are great because they’re customizable, many of them don’t support the latest MacOS anymore, causing them to limit what apps can be installed on them.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, buying a refurbished laptop can be a convenient and affordable option compared to getting a high-spec laptop for a fraction of the price at which they are new. Remember, refurbished doesn’t mean second-rate. It simply means that the laptop might have had a factory fault or some damage that was fixed and is now being sold. In most cases, they’re perfectly fine and will serve you just as well as a new laptop. So, if the budget is tight and you’re looking for a cheaper option, consider looking for a refurbished laptop.
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