Are refurbished laptops good?
That might be the question that you’re asking yourself right now if you’re in need of a new computer. And the answer is…
It really all depends!
There are some people who swear by refurbished laptops, which are essentially used laptops that have been restored to like-new condition in most cases after getting fixed up. But there are also people who will tell you that you should buy a brand-new laptop as opposed to going the refurbished route.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should consider investing in a refurbished laptop, you should think about the pros and cons that come along with them. They’ll help you answer the question, “Are certified refurbished laptops good?”, once and for all.
Learn all about the pros and cons of refurbished laptops below.
Pro: They’re Less Expensive Than New Laptops
Buying a new laptop isn’t always going to be cheap. While some laptops are going for well under $500 these days, there are also some that might cost you several thousand dollars.
You can find ways to save money on a new laptop if you want. This page contains great deals for those who are deadset on buying a laptop that’s brand-new.
But if you ask yourself the question, “Are refurbished laptops good?”, and decide that the answer is a resounding “yes!”, you can also go with a refurbished one that’ll cost less than a new one. You might be able to save yourself a nice chunk of change when you purchase a refurbished laptop.
Con: They Don’t Always Come With Great Warranties
Regardless of whether you choose to buy a refurbished laptop or a new one, there is a chance that it’s going to need to be repaired at some point. And if you have a refurbished laptop, you could be on the hook for paying for the necessary repairs.
This is because most refurbished laptops don’t come with great warranties on them. You might get one with a warranty that lasts for 6 months or even a full year. But more often than not, the warranties on refurbished laptops will be short compared to the warranties on new ones.
You’re going to need to be prepared for the possibility of paying for laptop repairs if you invest in a refurbished laptop. It’s not something that you’ll have to worry about too much when you have a new laptop with an excellent warranty on it.
Pro: They’re Just as Fast and Efficient as New Laptops
When you find yourself asking questions like, “How good are Best Buy refurbished laptops?” or “Are refurbished Apple laptops good?”, consider this: Most refurbished laptops have been tinkered with and brought back to life before being sold. As a result, they’re every bit as fast and efficient as most new laptops are.
This should put your mind at ease when you buy a laptop that has been refurbished by a reputable seller. As long as you buy it from someone who knows what they’re doing while refurbishing computers, you won’t have to worry about a laptop not delivering the kind of performance you need.
If you were to put a refurbished laptop up against a new laptop in the performance category, you should expect them both to perform at about the same rate. It’ll feel just like you bought a new laptop in many cases when you buy a refurbished one.
Con: They’re Often Dinged Up and Have Imperfections on Them
While everything on the inside of a refurbished laptop will usually work like new when you get it home, the same can’t always be said for the outside of them. The case on a refurbished laptop might look like it has seen better days when you take it out of the box.
Most of the companies that sell refurbished laptops will do their best to restore the exterior of a laptop to like-new condition before selling it. But that’s not always possible, which is why some refurbished laptops are filled with scratches, dents, and other imperfections.
The good news is that most companies will let you know about this prior to selling you a refurbished laptop. They’ll also often make a dinged up laptop less than it would be otherwise in terms of price. It could help you score a great deal on a refurbished laptop if you don’t mind the way the case on it looks.
Pro: They’re More Eco-Friendly Than New Laptops
When you buy a laptop that has been refurbished rather than a new one, you’ll be saving that refurbished laptop from ending up in a landfill. You’ll be giving it a second life and doing what’s best for the planet.
For this reason, refurbished laptops are considered to be the more eco-friendly option when compared to new laptops. They don’t call for computer companies to use up a bunch of resources to create a new laptop for you.
If you’re someone who tries to take an eco-friendly approach to almost everything in your life, then you’re going to love the idea of buying a refurbished laptop and not a new one. It’ll be one more way in which you’re able to do what’s right for Mother Nature.
Con: They Won’t Typically Last as Long as New Laptops
The average laptop is going to last you for somewhere between 3 and 5 years in most instances. You might be able to get a little more life out of one by taking good care of it, but a laptop isn’t going to last you forever.
Refurbished laptops, in particular, are going to die on you sooner than new ones and put you in a position where you’ll have to replace them quicker than you might hope. There is a chance you might only be able to get a refurbished laptop to last for a year or two before having to replace it.
You’ll want to keep this in the back of your mind when you’re shopping around for refurbished laptops. The monetary savings that you enjoy when you buy one might not outweigh the fact that you’ll probably have to plan to pay for another laptop sometime soon.
Pro: They’ve Had a Chance to Earn More of a Reputation Than New Laptops
One of the things that you should always do before buying either a refurbished or new laptop is read as many reviews for it as you can. You want to see what other people have to say about using a laptop prior to purchasing it.
But the problem that you’re going to encounter when trying to do this with a new laptop is that it likely won’t have too many reviews available for it. You’ll be limited as far as how many reviews you can find for it, which might make it difficult to get a sense of what people are saying about it.
Looking up reviews for a refurbished laptop, on the other hand, should be a cinch. Since the laptop will have been around for at least a few months, if not much longer than that, you should be able to track down dozens and maybe even hundreds of reviews for it.
These reviews will shed some much-needed light on what a laptop brings to the table. You’ll feel so much better about buying a refurbished laptop when you see that it has racked up tons of positive reviews since being released.
Con: They Could Potentially Come With Preexisting Conditions
When a computer is being refurbished, a company will jump through hoops to make sure that it fixes up every single aspect of it. They’ll make it their mission to ensure that you don’t get stuck with a laptop that has any problems at all.
But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to miss something. They could very well overlook an issue with a computer and sell you a refurbished laptop that has preexisting conditions.
If this turns out to be the case, you could end up with a refurbished laptop that doesn’t last more than a few months. You’re going to have to go right back to shopping around for laptops when it kicks the bucket on you.
It’ll make you wish that you had chosen to buy a new laptop from the beginning. You can avoid finding yourself in a messy situation by going with a new one at the start.
So, Are Refurbished Laptops Good? Only You Can Decide
As we mentioned earlier, some people are big fans of refurbished laptops. Others? Not so much!
It can make it challenging to provide a definitive answer to the question, “Are refurbished laptops good?”
To answer it, you should run through the pros and cons listed here to decide where you stand. They should help you decide if buying a refurbished laptop makes sense for you or if you should stick with a new one instead.
Learn more about buying laptops and other gadgets by browsing through all of the technology articles found on our blog.