They also usually come with whatever version of OS X (or iOS) was current when the device was originally manufactured. These products do get all new cables and manuals, though.

Refurbished products are repackaged – usually not original packaging Apple spends a penny on those fancy white boxes, so refurbs get sturdy, plain cardboard most of the time. Next, the MacBook, desktop, or mobile device (iPads and iPods will also show up on Apple’s refurbished store, but iPhones are kept separate) undergoes a pretty strict cleaning process. A product that is repaired has any relevant parts replaced as part of its refurbishing. Instead, they go through a process to become Apple Certified Refurbished Products.Ī returned product may not have anything wrong with it, and goes through the refurbishment process without much effort, aside from testing. When a product gets returned to Apple, or swapped out at a Genius Bar instead of being repaired, these products can’t be sold as new, even if they haven’t really been used. There is another option – and this one offers both good discounts and a guaranteed warranty: Apple’s officially refurbished products. So what’s a person to do? Aside from trolling the flyers for fifty bucks off of a MacBook around Black Friday, buyers have turned to sites like eBay and Craigslist in an attempt to score a good deal – but buying used carries its own risks, like getting scammed, dealing with invisible problems, and paying for out-of-warranty MacBook repairs. You’ll see fifty bucks off here and there, especially when there’s a new model coming out, but it’s hard to do any better. To make matters worse, sales on Apple products are nearly nonexistent.

While Apple might be known for some of the best designed products in tech, they’re also known for carrying a hefty price premium. Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s refurbished program. Looking for a cheap MacBook? One of the best places to get deals on Apple laptops is, surprisingly, from Apple themselves.

Buying a refurbished macbook air