A Guide to Buying Refurbished Electronics

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of buying refurbished tech online?

By checking out the refurbished market, you can find tons of fantastic deals on devices and appliances that might look and perform like new, as well as slightly more pre-loved items that have plenty of life in them. 

While buying refurbished can feel like a wild (and slightly confusing!) ride, there are marketplaces with vetted products that have years of great service left in them. 

With a quick online search, you'll find many ways to buy a single type of product. Say you want a sleek, yet high-performance MacBook Air—you could get it brand new, used, refurbished, straight from Apple, from a big box store like Best Buy, from a stranger on eBay, or elsewhere, depending on your budget and preferences. 

When there’s so much to consider, why go refurbished? How do you save on refurbished electronics without sacrificing quality? How do you know which marketplaces or vendors to trust?

We're here to help, but let's straighten out what exactly we're talking about first! 

What Are Refurbished Electronics?

Refurbished electronics are products that have been bought, returned, or salvaged, and then reconditioned or fixed up. Every restoration has its own story, so the details about each device are important!

You could buy refurbished products online from the original manufacturer or a third party. There’s a theory that sourcing refurbs from the initial source is the safer bet, but reputable third-party distributors of refurbished electronics might debate that.

There are many success stories of savvy shoppers scoring impressive tech at incredible rates. But for every success, there's a cautionary tale as well. Our advice for avoiding the latter situation? Educate yourself as much as possible before making a purchase!

Sellers are expected to have run a quality assurance check on refurbished items before putting them up for sale. It's also best practice for minor scratches, marks, blemishes, and performance to be cleared up (or attempted to!) and for notes about each item's exact physical condition to be included in any listing. 

In some listings, you may get extra information on the device, such as expected battery life or performance levels upon delivery.

Some vendors even offer a limited-time warranty for their refurbished devices, whether that's 30 days, 90 days, etc., which can provide extra peace of mind for smart shoppers.

Refurbished vs. New Open-Box and Used

It’s important not to mistake used electronics or new open-box ones for refurbished products. Something used is simply that—bought, used, and returned.

New open-box devices are typically in better condition than some refurbished devices. At StackSocial, new open-box tech is usually excess inventory from store shelves. Its packaging might show some signs of handling, and the tech itself may have had customer contact, though it hasn't actually been used.

However, these products have undergone verification to ensure they are in new condition—they are not refurbished!

You can find desktops, laptops, tablets, and other tech in new open-box condition, all of which offer pristine devices at more affordable rates.

Go Refurbished and Help the Environment

While electronics are terrific for making daily connectivity possible, it's no secret that electronics production is detrimental to the environment. According to The UN, in 2023 alone, nearly 18 pounds of electronic waste was produced per person worldwide.

To put the downside of tech development and production in perspective, that totals about an additional 61.3 million tons of electronic waste. Per TechHQ, that's more than the Great Wall of China weighs!

Fortunately, shopping for refurbished tech not only brings savings right to your fingertips, but it hugely benefits the planet. Just buying a pre-loved smartphone cuts the environmental impact of purchasing a brand-new device by up to 91%.

Refurbished tech further gives Mother Nature a hand by reducing the usage of core minerals and plastics, limiting air and water pollution, and lowering your carbon footprint.

Great tech that helps your wallet and the environment? Yes, please!

Refurbished vs. New

On top of the environmental impact of buying new, there are a few other disadvantages. First off, brand-new electronics continue to grow more and more expensive, especially as brands add innovations to their newest models of desktops, laptops, etc.

Let's be honest: Unless you're a pro coder, video editor, or any other profession where the max storage, fastest processing power, or most precise camera is required, you likely don't need a brand-new device or the latest tech innovations!

The best refurbished deals feature products that can last for years and work effectively. So, if you're a more casual user, take advantage of shopping refurbished since it might just provide the right amount of power and features to meet your needs and then some.

And while we're being transparent, buying refurbished vs. new is simply a matter of want vs. need. We've all been in this situation—it feels so good to buy new stuff! But that feeling doesn't beat the savings you can score with refurbished tech (for you and the planet).

How to Find the Best Refurbished Electronics

When looking to buy refurbished electronics online, how does even the least tech-savvy shopper tell whether or not a listing is a scam? There are a few ways to do your due diligence: 

• Research the seller
• Many third-party vendors have websites, user reviews, social media feeds, and more to help you determine their history and quality of work 
• Consider the return policy
• It might be a little while before you figure out if the product has problems, so a generous return policy is something to add to your list of wants when shopping for refurbished tech
• Set your expectations accordingly
• Decide what you want to use the device for, and then determine the level of quality you need
• If you just need to email and watch Netflix, you could save money and get an older laptop or computer
• If you’re a programmer who needs more RAM, processing power, or storage, then opt for newer refurbished (like Grade "A" refurbished!) electronics or brand-new products

Where to Buy Refurbished Electronics 

You'll do well if you decide to try and buy refurbished electronics around long holiday weekends or new product launches. It's also smart to keep an eye out for sales on refurbished laptops, desktop computers, phones, tablets, televisions, and other electronics that pop up in advertisements, email blasts, etc.

Suppose you don't want to wait for a special refurbished promotion. In that case, StackSocial’s Top Tech Trends page often features new sales on refurbished electronics that are well-reviewed, affordable options for shoppers searching for a new-to-them device!

For those who are curious about some of the best refurbished deals online available right now, we've decided to do some of the legwork for you. Check out what we've discovered below!

Computers, Laptops, and Tablets

Grade "A" Refurbished 2017 13.3-inch MacBook Air 

This ultra-sleek and lightweight MacBook Air makes owning a piece of Apple innovation affordable, but without sacrificing quality. It has a Grade "A" refurbishment rating, the highest for any pre-loved tech, meaning it'll arrive in like-new condition!

Sure, its model year is a little dated, but if all you need is light computing, streaming, or browsing, this MacBook Air could be the ideal device for you.

It comes with a strong 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 13.3-inch wide display, lengthy 12-hour battery life, and 128GB of storage for family reunion flicks and important files, just to name a few of its best features!

The $349 (reg. $599) price tag is a solid deal for this near-mint condition 13.3-inch MacBook Air.

Grade "A" Refurbished 2018 iPad 6th Gen Bundled With Accessories

While we love our smartphones and sleek laptops, sometimes, you just want something in between. Cue this 2018 iPad 6th Gen, which thanks to its Grade "A" refurbishment status, will come to you in pristine condition.

Its 9.7-inch display is just the right size for streaming Baby Reindeer, browsing online for a new grill, and even working on the go. The lengthy 10-hour battery life also means it's a great source of entertainment during road trips or longer flights.

This near-mint iPad 6th Gen also has a speedy Apple A10 chip for powerful multitasking, 32GB of storage for photos and videos, Siri for easy voice commands, and Touch ID for Apple Pay and quick app sign-in. It even comes with protective accessories like a case and screen protector!

Blending the best of a smartphone and laptop, this $160 (reg. $249.99) like-new iPad 6th Gen makes on-the-go entertainment and work possible.

Grade "B" Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 11e

Not so much of an Apple fan? Don't worry, there are plenty of other refurb options, like this pre-loved Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 11e laptop!

With a Grade "B" refurbishment rating, this Chromebook isn't in like-new condition, but has been restored to ensure its screen doesn't have any scratches and it performs well. At most, it'll have minimal to normal wear and tear, a small price to pay for affordable tech (which is also easily covered by a case!).

This Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook is ultra-portable thanks to its 11.6-inch design. It's got an Intel Celeron N3150 Processor and 4GB of RAM for speedy browsing and efficiency, 16GB SSD for work or school docs, and ChromeOS for smooth integration with Google apps.

There's no need to pay full price for this 2016 Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 11e, especially with this refurbished offer that makes it $62 (reg. $104.99).

Grade "B" Refurbished 2018 Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook

If you thought you'd never be able to find a touchscreen laptop on the refurbished market, think again! This Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook brings four usage options (one of them being tablet mode!) with a Grade "B" refurbishment rating.

While it's not brand-new, you can expect it to arrive with a scratch-free screen, clean, operational keyboard and trackpad, and at least 70% of its battery health intact.

Zoom into photos or docs on this Lenovo's touchscreen or type away at a proposal—it can do both!

It comes with an anti-glare coated 11.6-inch display, 32GB of local storage capacity, 4GB of RAM, and seamless WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. ChromeOS is also built-in for easy multi-tasking on Google Workspace

Customize how you work with this $111 (reg. $475.99) refurbished Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook by using it as a laptop, tablet, tent, or stand.

Grade "A" Refurbished 2012 Lenovo ThinkCentre M92

 

You're not just limited to laptops, smartphones, or tablets when you shop refurbished. If you need extra processing power and storage for your home office, there are tons of desktop options available!

This Grade "A" refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 is in like-new condition and takes up little room thanks to its space-saving design. While it's not the newest desktop on the market, it comes with many features designed to enhance any professional or student's workflow. 

It has 16GB of RAM, and the Intel i5-3470 processor runs at 3.2GHz, which helps it run multiple apps without lag, plus a generous 256GB storage capacity for files, photos, and more. Windows 10 Home is pre-programmed as its OS for extra efficiency, multi-tasking power, and even security.

With this nearly new Lenovo ThinkCentre M92, you'll even score an AC power adapter, keyboard, and mouse for $140 (reg. $210.99).

Looking for Even More Refurbished Deals?

Ready to check out more incredible refurbished deals? Check out that page for desktop computers, smart-home appliances, and more the next time you're looking to buy refurbished electronics online!

StackSocial works with a variety of merchants and brands to bring you deals worth talking about. We may earn a commission on purchases made through our links. StackSocial prices subject to change.