Want to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro? Keep this in mind

A new MacBook Pro costs quite a bit of money. That is why many people opt for a second-hand or a refurbished model. You too? Then keep this in mind.

Why choose a refurbished MacBook Pro? The pros and cons

The term ‘refurbished’ means ‘renovated’. A refurbished MacBook Pro therefore consists of both used and brand new parts. The device is extensively tested and then the worn parts are replaced.

It is therefore possible that a refurbished MacBook contains a number of small scratches and dents, but you can be assured that it functions fully properly.

Before you buy a refurbished Apple product, it is important to be well aware of the advantages and disadvantages. Based on this, you can make a well-considered decision whether refurbished is something for you, or whether it is better to go for a new (or second-hand) device.

1. Choose which model suits you best

Once you have decided that you are going to opt for a refurbished MacBook Pro, it is important to think about the model you want.

The very latest MacBooks are often not yet available in refurbished condition. The most recent MacBooks that you can find refurbished often do not differ much in price from a brand new MacBook Pro.

Think about your needs before taking the plunge. Are you planning to do a lot of heavy tasks like video editing and Photoshop? Then it is wise to go for a recent model with a lot of RAM and storage space. Otherwise you will have to deal with annoying crashes.

Do you mainly plan to type files, make presentations and do a bit of internet browsing? Then an older model will suffice. Apple keeps MacBooks up to date with software updates for a very long time. The most recent version of macOS (Monterey) runs on all MacBook Pros from early 2015 and newer. The older models will also last a few years.

The 2015 MacBook Pro is Apple’s oldest supported Pro laptop. However, the device has an outdated design and relatively slow processor. It does, however, still have all kinds of ‘old-fashioned’ connections, such as a full-fledged USB port and SD card input. You won’t find these connections on all newer MacBook Pros.

Another thing to keep in mind: the MacBook Pros from 2016 have a so-called butterfly-keyboard. From 2020, Apple has gone back to the old familiar keyboard, because many butterfly keyboards turned out to be broken. Most butterfly keyboards hold up just fine, but it’s something to keep in mind.

2. 13 inch vs 16 inch screen

Apple sells the MacBook Pro in two sizes: 13 and 16 inches. The 16-inch model is of course larger, but also has more powerful hardware. The speakers are better and the processor is faster. The 16-inch models often also have more working memory than their smaller brothers.

All of this makes the 16-inch model more suitable for people who do heavy visual work – such as Adobe Photoshop or editing videos. Do you work a lot on the road, for example on the train? Then the 13-inch version might be a smarter choice. The smaller the laptop, the easier it fits in your bag and the less it weighs.

3. Touch Bar or not?

Since 2016, the more expensive models of the MacBook Pro have incorporated a Touch Bar in the keyboard. This Touch Bar allows users to do all kinds of things depending on the program they are using. For example, in Microsoft Word you can make text bold and adjust the brightness of the screen via the touch-sensitive bar.

As of 2019, all MacBook Pros will have a Touch Bar. From 2016 to 2018, an entry-level model without Touch Bar was also available. This cost considerably less money. The refurbished MacBook Pro without Touch Bar is also available for less money than the model with Touch Bar.

4. Different colors to choose from

The MacBook Pro has been available in two colors since 2016: silver and space gray. Other Apple laptops, such as the MacBook Air, are also available in gold. The color has a direct influence on the offer. For example, it is possible that the model you would like to have is only available in silver.

The color also sometimes influences the price of the laptop. In that case, it’s up to you to make the trade-off between a different color or save hard-earned money.

5. What condition is the laptop in?

Websites that offer refurbished products usually give multiple quality choices. These are ‘like new’, ‘lightly used’ and ‘used’. The terms speak for themselves: if you want the most beautiful laptop, choose ‘as new’. In the case of ‘lightly used’ you will encounter small scratches and dents. The ‘used’ label includes MacBooks that have clearly been used.

The better the condition of the laptop, the higher the price. Don’t mind a few dents and scratches? That will certainly save you a few tens – and in some cases even a few hundred euros. You can also always buy a cover to hide the signs of use (and prevent more spots).

6. Reliability

Before you actually make a purchase, it is always wise to check whether the website you have in mind is actually reliable. For this reason, there is a shop rating for each provider in our price comparator.

Under the name of a store you see five stars, which are filled in on the basis of various independent review parties. These parties collect experiences and reviews from customers and calculate an average for this per store. This way you can see at a glance what a store’s score is and how many people have expressed their opinion about it.

7. Warranty

You are entitled to a warranty with every purchase you make in the Netherlands. Note the term: the warranty period varies between 12 and 36 months. The cooling-off period is at least 14 days and can be up to 40 days. Free returns are part of the service at many online stores, although at others you have to pay the shipping costs yourself.

Become a refurbished expert with iPhoned

Do you want to know more about refurbished MacBooks in general? Then read our ultimate refurbished MacBook buying guide. We regularly write about refurbished Apple products. You can read everything via the website and our free iPhoned app. You can also register for our newsletter. Read more about refurbished Apple products below: