Most of us favor laptops over desktop PCs in the modern age of mobile tech, but these handy portable computers don’t typically come cheap. When it’s time to buy a new computer, though, the truth is that you probably can’t afford to wait weeks or months for the next big seasonal sale to arrive, especially if you use your PC every day for work or school. If you’re on a tight budget, then you can save a wad of cash by going the refurbished route. This is a great way to score brand-name tech in excellent (or even like new) condition for a lot less — and we’ve already scooped up all of this month’s best refurbished laptop deals right here.
Today’s best refurbished laptop sales
If you want a refurbished MacBook that looks and works like new, it doesn’t get much better than buying directly from the pros at the Apple Store. You can even get models with the new M1 CPU.
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is a portable powerhouse perfect for school, work, and travel. Right now, you can grab one that’s been professionally renewed to look and work like new.
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The selection changes around a bit, but Dell always has solid refurbished laptops available at the Dell Outlet.
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Looking for a recent MacBook Pro but don’t want to spend more than a grand? This 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro is Amazon Renewed and packs great hardware for an everyday laptop.
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Wanna go even smaller than the 13-inch MacBooks? This professionally renewed 11.6-inch MacBook Air from 2015 should scratch that itch (and it’s super cheap).
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With a 15-inch display and a capable Pentium processor, the Gateway ultra-thin notebook is a solid budget laptop that will do just what you need.
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Dell’s answer to the ThinkPad, the Latitude E7470 is a sturdily built laptop made for serious workloads — and it even sports a touchscreen.
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Considered by some enthusiasts to be the last true old-school ThinkPad, the T420 has everything we love about these no-nonsense laptops — right down to its traditional mechanical keyboard.
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The latest MacBook Pro is usually the priciest laptop in Apple’s stable, but this 2017 model won’t feel too long in the tooth in 2021 (and this refurbished deal lets you score it for much less).
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Everybody who likes Windows laptops loves ThinkPads, and refurbished models are available aplenty. Grab this one with perfect work specs for a great price.
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Need a PC on the tightest of budgets? The 11-inch Gateway 2-in-1 notebook is perfect for anyone in the market for a cheap yet reliable workstation that you can take with you anywhere.
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Swift, precise and reliable, the beefy Dell Precision Mobile Workstation is best suited for workers and creators who need to keep up with high work demands.
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With top-notch ease of use, this MacBook Air is ideal as a starter Mac. Its thin and light design is great for traveling, too.
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Looking for an entry-level MacBook? This MacBook Air is the ideal starting point, with its fantastic build quality and top-notch ease of use. Its thin and light design is great for traveling, too.
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With the M1 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, this 13-inch MacBook Pro is one of the beefiest laptops you’ll find for this price. Refurbished from the pros at Amazon.
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is a portable powerhouse perfect for school, work, and travel. Right now, you can grab one that’s been professionally refurbished directly from the folks at Microsoft.
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Should you buy a refurbished laptop?
A refurbished laptop can be fantastic value for your money, but you need to look out for a few key things to make sure you don’t get ripped off. For instance, it’s vital that the refurbished laptop deals you check out are all factory refurbished, meaning the actual manufacturer repaired them. You’ll also want to make sure that the refurbished laptop has at least a 12-month warranty and that the refurbished laptop sales are from a reliable and reputable retailer.
If you stick to these things, then you should be safe. By following such ideals, you’ll ensure your refurbished laptop has been repaired by a company employee using factory parts, and the warranty means that if the same (or a different) issue pops up, you can have it repaired for free.
If you come across something that hasn’t been reconditioned in the same factory in which it was made but is still listed as certified refurbished, it’s still good to go. That tends to mean that it’s been as good as factory repaired by a professional who knows what they’re doing.
It’s sensible to stick to trusted retailers with a warranty and some form of guarantee as it avoids any chance of you accidentally buying stolen stock.
As always, remember to use common sense. If the refurbished laptop deals you’re checking out look too good to be true, they probably are. Make sure you buy from a reputable seller so you won’t be disappointed by your purchase.
Finally, as with all laptops, it’s a good idea to know what to look for. Check out our laptop buying guide and take a look at 11 common laptop buying mistakes you can easily avoid.
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