A laptop is, in many ways, an investment that could last for a good few years as your primary machine to get things done both in a professional and personal capacity. Ideally, you should save up some money and get a nice laptop that’s well-built and comes with extended support so it can last you longer.
However, not all of us need an expensive laptop every time and a refurbished laptop becomes a better-suited choice because of its specific advantages. Whether you need a backup laptop with limited usage or a specific application, or you don’t want to spend a ton of money, a refurbished laptop makes more sense. To make things simpler, we’ve discussed below some important things you need to look out for when buying a refurbished laptop. Read on to know more.
What are Refurbished Laptops?
Refurbished laptops are typically open-box or used laptops that have been cleaned, inspected, and restored by the manufacturer or seller and are working completely fine. Because of this, refurbished laptops are priced lower than new ones and can end up saving you significant capital without sacrificing key metrics like performance, build quality, and endurance. The exact pricing, of course, depends on the condition, the extent of usage, manufacturers, and hardware specifications.
How Do You Source a Refurbished Laptop?
Normally, laptop manufacturers refurbish their own laptops after physically inspecting, cleaning, removing issues, and restoring them. There could be any number of reasons why the laptop was returned. Sometimes people change their minds or get something else while waiting for the laptop, or find a fault in it that warrants a return. The refurbished laptops typically come with warranties from the manufacturers so you can buy with complete peace of mind.
Warranty
While new laptops almost always come with warranties from the manufacturer, the warranties of refurbished laptops vary from one manufacturer to another. Sometimes, a refurbished laptop will have a shorter warranty than a new one because of the date of return and the remaining warranty period.
Physical Condition
Since the refurbished market includes both open-box and used laptops, the wear and tear on each laptop is different. Laptop manufacturers or resellers like Amazon usually make all the information about their restoration process available on their pages so you know exactly what you’re buying. To give you an idea of the condition, they usually classify the laptops into a few categories like fair, good, excellent, like new, etc, and explain what to expect from each category. Naturally, the price also varies depending on the condition.
Generation
We’ll only consider two operating systems in this article, Windows and macOS. Apple has started making its own silicon processors like the M1 and M2, while Windows laptops come with Intel or AMD processors. Each year, these processor manufacturers release a newer generation that the laptop manufacturers use in their laptops. The higher the generation, the pricier it is. It ultimately boils down to your budget and preferences.
Who Should Buy a Refurbished Laptop?
Although anyone can buy a refurbished laptop, these are especially suited for some audiences and can be a better value proposition. If you’re a student with a limited budget, going for a refurbished laptop makes more sense than buying a new one. Moreover, parents who are on the lookout for a laptop for their school-going kids can also buy refurbished laptops.
In addition, deal hunters looking to experience an almost new laptop experience but at a better price can also turn to refurbished laptops. Lastly, if you’re a gamer, you know that gaming equipment is far from cheap with newer high-end laptops going as much as $5,000 for one unit. Getting a refurbished gaming laptop can save you decent cash without compromising the gaming experience.
What to Do After Buying the Laptop?
The first thing you need to check is if the laptop comes with an operating system pre-installed. Second, you should install good malware and antivirus software and do a deep scan of the computer to make sure that it is safe to operate. Then, you’ll need to install all the necessary software that is essential to your workflow, including the drivers and updates.
Keep in mind that an internet connection is mandatory to download all the performance and firmware updates. Alternatively, you can download a diagnostics tool from the laptop manufacturer’s website and ensure all components are working smoothly. This is why your internet connection needs to be fast and reliable. Consider upgrading to CenturyLink Internet because of its multiple speed options, wide availability, unlimited data, and no contracts.
Conclusion
This concludes everything you need to know before buying a refurbished laptop. A refurbished laptop can be a great buy depending on the condition and specifications of the laptop. Make sure that the seller is trusted and has a lot of positive ratings. Be sure to read individual reviews of the product you’ve been eyeing. Delayed response or late deliveries is not that big of a deal, but things like frequent hardware failures or no support from the seller can be red flags that you need to avoid.
