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‘Refurbished’ laptops are indeed more affordable than new laptops, and with (some) good refurbishment it makes no difference or function from a new machine. However, there are significant differences between ‘used’, and refurbished laptops, so it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference. In this article, we’ll talk about refurbished laptops and what to look for to help you find one that’s good, or even like new.

What Is a Refurbished Laptop?
Refurbished laptops are laptops that are used or that have been removed from the box, cleaned, repaired, and put up for resale. There are types of reconditioning that are carried out by the laptop manufacturer itself (or often called the ‘manufacturer’), and there are also those that are carried out by third parties (sellers). Refurbished laptops are usually sold at a significant price difference compared to new laptops of similar type/specs. The main question people often ask is “Is that refurbished laptop still good or worth using?” Here are a few ways to find a good, refurbished laptop.

Distinguish Between Used and Refurbished Laptops

Refurbished and used laptops are not the same, but most refurbished laptops have been used before, aka used. In some cases, certain parties may have taken the computer out of the box for a reason (eg for display or exhibition purposes), in which case the seller may sell it as refurbished but not new. Laptops that have been used and returned to stores are prime candidates for the refurbishment process.

Before being sold as refurbished laptops, laptops are usually inspected for cosmetic repairs, tested to ensure full operation, repaired (replacement of parts) if necessary, and cleaned. In some cases, internal components will be replaced or upgraded even if they are still in good working order. Usually a ‘factory-reset’ is also carried out, with the installation of a new/fresh operating system. This section is important if someone previously used the laptop because you don’t want to buy a refurbished laptop that still has a lot of data from the previous owner.

Where to Get/Buy a Reconditioned Laptop

When choosing a refurbished laptop, it’s important to consider the seller. If a laptop is factory refurbished, then the process is done by the same manufacturer that made the laptop. It’s likely a laptop that has been unboxed basically new and just tested to make sure it works, or it may have been sent back damaged, repaired, tested, cleaned, and available for sale at a discount. Manufacturers usually provide detailed information about their repair process and offer the best guarantees.

Some distributors/resellers also have repair or renewal programs, where the retailer renews the laptop or contracts with a third party to do so. For example, a third-party service provider may join a ‘refurbishment’ program to sell refurbished laptops and other electronics through a marketplace. Programs like this usually have strict requirements, so you can keep track of what’s going on during the repair process. Sellers who provide refurbished laptops usually have their own service center and carry out the process independently (which will also function as a service center if problems are encountered in the future).

Obtained Guarantee

The warranty period varies from seller to seller, and some laptops are not covered by a warranty at all. New laptops usually come with a one-year warranty, and that’s what you should look for in a refurbished model (when possible). Although refurbished laptops are technically not new, they are sold in a variety of conditions, from ‘like new’ to ‘battered’, so sellers must be willing to provide support and comfort to buyers, especially after purchase (after sales service). Some vendors provide warranties of up to several months (with certain conditions), and some as little as a few weeks or days (usually for checking and testing).

Conditions and Equipment
The condition of the laptop will depend on whether it has been used by someone else before (second hand), and if so, how the former owner behaved in using it. An adequate repair process will return a used laptop to like-new condition, but there may be some cosmetic issues such as scratches, peeling paint or dents that cannot be repaired. The refurbished laptop chosen should ideally be clean and free of physical defects, as this is the first indicator of past usage behaviour.

Refurbished laptops should also be cleaned internally (of dust/dirt etc.), tested, and repaired. Any components that are not working properly should be replaced, and those that are working properly should be cleaned. In the end, a refurbished laptop should look and function like it did when it was new. It may lag behind in components and performance compared to newer models, but it should work as well as it did when it was new.

Some sellers will give their laptops a grade or condition with words like ‘like new’, ‘BNOB’ (brand new out of box), ‘grade A’, or other terms. Pay attention to specific terminology, because each rating level has its own criteria that reflect the item you want to buy.

Model/Specifications and released year

The specifications and model (what year) you get will of course depend on the budget you have. However, in essence, buying a refurbished laptop as an alternative is a way to save money, by getting the best (laptop) performance for the money you have, compared to buying a new one.

If your needs revolve around running basic tasks like word processing (Office suite) and surfing the internet, you can safely look at refurbished laptops that are older or with lower specifications (ideally, no older than 5-6 years). However, to play the latest games, as much as possible look for reconditioned laptops released in the last 1-2 years, to be able to keep up with the needs of the latest games.

Apple laptops tend to last longer, but you can still experience performance issues after more than five or six years. The main problem is that recent versions of macOS usually only run-on Macs made within the last eight years. Buying a refurbished old MacBook will eventually lock you out of new operating system updates even if the laptop still works fine, or alternatively you can install another operating system to keep it running with security updates (such as Ubuntu or LinuxMint).

Closing

Buying a reconditioned laptop can save costs and provide excellent performance compared to new prices, so it is a good choice for many people, such as students, parents (who want to look for home or school children’s needs), gamers with a mediocre budget, to ‘hunter hunters’.

When you buy a reconditioned laptop, there are several things that must be done immediately to maximize its use, such as:

– Check all functions and completeness, whether they are in accordance with the conditions when they were new, or according to the seller’s description

– Ensuring a fresh operating system, no data (or possible viruses) left behind from the old owner

– Install applications/software according to your needs, and transfer data for use

– Upgrading possible components (such as RAM, or additional storage drives), if there is still some budget left.

Regarding the selection of sellers, try to buy them at authorized stores or official stores that provide direct manufacturer reconditioned goods, or if you buy online from a marketplace, make sure the seller has a good sales history (reputation), provides a fairly fair guarantee, and has a service center in the event of Complain even when you don’t want it.