Companies have been refurbishing laptops for years, but many people are skeptical of buying a refurbished laptop. The general consensus is that new is better, and while that notion does have merit, a refurbished laptop can be just as good or better than a new one.
What is a refurbished laptop?
A refurbished laptop is a pre-owned device that has been carefully tested and restored to the manufacturer’s fully working condition. Hard drives are reformatted, operating systems are reinstalled fresh, and bad parts are replaced to restore it to ‘like-new’ status. Refurbished laptops are typically sold at a discount.
For anyone on the fence, this article will help you learn the pros and cons of buying a refurbished laptop along with when it does and doesn’t make sense.
Pro: You’ll save money
From a reputable company, a refurbished laptop should cost significantly less than a new version of the same model. When buying refurbished, because of the lower price, you can buy a higher-end, premium model at a decent discount. For example, if you want a business or gaming laptop, you can save hundreds of dollars by going with a refurbished device.
Con: Not all refurbished devices are quality
Not all refurbished laptops are being sold by reputable companies that know exactly what they’re doing. Often, individuals with a little bit of computer hardware knowledge flip used laptops by fixing major issues, but not truly restoring them to the manufacturer’s standards. Sometimes they use cheap parts, too, like old batteries or even generic batteries. This can be a major problem because sometimes they won’t hold a charge and can even cause problems with the laptop itself.
With these sellers, you end up paying more because they don’t source their laptops in bulk to get good pricing, and as a result, they charge more than they should.
In this case, a brand new HP laptop can cost the same as a refurbished one, and if you prefer buying new computers, then you have every reason to buy a new device.
Pro: Refurbished laptops are environmentally-friendly
If you’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste, then a refurbished laptop is a great choice. You’ll be one of many thousands of people who save a laptop from going to the landfill. It’s a small, but meaningful gesture that supports the environment.
Con: Your laptop might look dinged up
Refurbished laptops are graded based on where they came from, how much they’ve been used, and how they look cosmetically. Typically, laptops graded a little lower are slightly cheaper because of various cosmetic defects. For example, there might be dead pixels on the screen, scratches, or dents on the body of the laptop.
Cosmetic blemishes don’t make a difference in performance, but if you prefer the aesthetics of a new computer, you’ll either need to find a grade A refurbished laptop or buy a new one.
Pro: Quality assurance
When you buy a used laptop, you have no way of knowing what you’re getting. It might stop working after a few days or a week, and there’s nothing you can do at that point because most sellers won’t accept returns.
On the other hand, when you buy a refurbished laptop from a reputable seller, you’ll get a warranty and the ability to return the laptop within a certain number of days. Companies that know what they’re doing aren’t concerned about accepting returns because they stand behind their work. If something goes wrong, they’re willing to fix it for their customers.
Con: You might not be able to find a new model
Since refurbished laptops are used, there’s a chance you may not be able to find a newer model. That isn’t a problem for everyone, and if you’re not set on a specific laptop, you shouldn’t worry about this too much.
There’s nothing wrong with older models, as long as the laptop you buy comes with an operating system that can be upgraded to be secure and compatible with all of the applications you use. A refurbished laptop no more than three years old is a good idea.
Tips for buying a laptop
Before spending your hard-earned cash, figure out what you need in terms of RAM and disk space, as well as performance. Then, look for a laptop that meets your needs and is within your budget. If you can’t find a new one, start looking for a refurbished unit.
As long as you buy from a reputable seller that provides a warranty, you can’t go wrong buying a refurbished laptop.
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