Apple's Macs aren't cheap. Buying a premium, elegantly crafted machine comes with a price, and many are willing to shell out the big bucks, whether it's for the newest iMac or the powerhouse M1 MacBook Pros.
But if you want a Mac but just can't pay the hefty price, then a refurbished Mac is your next best option. Here is everything you need to know about buying a refurbished Mac, whether it's through Apple or another retailer.
A computer or phone with internet access
Buying a refurbished Mac is different than buying a used, resold one. With the latter, owners are simply reselling their Mac with any existing problems it may have. Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a stranger. You really don't know what you're getting into problem-wise until you fire it up and after your wallet is drained.
Refurbished is different. The Mac is still pre-owned, but it was returned to a professional because of an issue or traded in for a newer model. Any malfunctioning parts are replaced, the product is tested to ensure everything works, and it's repackaged for resale. Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a dealership.
In both cases, the Mac is sold at a discount. However, refurbished Macs are often just as good as new ones, saving you money. A used Mac sold by a stranger may end up costing you more in the end.
Apple manages its own refurbished store, complete with its Certified Refurbished designation. Trained professionals ensure every device functions properly before putting it up for sale. The store offers the highest quality, so you're essentially getting a machine that barely differs from its on-the-shelf counterpart. It's a great instant-discount option when shopping for a new Mac.
A caveat applies, however, in that it's unusual to find current-generation Macs that have been refurbished, given that they likely haven't been returned. Typically, new products are on the market for at least a few months before any refurbished models appear. When they do, they're quickly snapped up.
The greatest range of products, then, will probably be between one and two years old. Anything newer is extremely difficult to find.
Apple's Refurbished shop is the place to go if you want to buy a refurbished Mac straight from the manufacturer. With Apple, you know that returned Macs have been inspected, fixed, cleaned, and repackaged by professionals. Apple even backs these products with the same warranty you'd find on a new Mac, and you can further protect your device with AppleCare coverage.
Here are some additional notes to consider:
There are options beyond the Apple Store if you're looking to grab a refurbished Mac. Many third-party vendors -- including Amazon and Best Buy -- specialize in refurbishing. These stores don't always offer products refurbished by Apple. Instead, they have in-house technicians that specialize in Mac repair. Even more, these stores offer their own guarantee and, at times, better discounts than Apple.
Trust is paramount here. Don't just type a search into eBay and look for the best possible prices -- that's a quick route to scams and disappointment. Instead, look for quality brands that offer well-reviewed refurbished items. Some of the more common retailers include:
Other World Computing: OWC specializes in used computers and tends to shy away from smaller Apple devices. The good news is the company has a great reputation and its prices are generally lower than that of Apple's, plus there's a two-week return policy.
Mac of All Trades: Mac of All Trades offers some of the best deals in the Mac world. Quality can sometimes be an issue, but the one-year warranty and expedited shipping make this a great alternative to the Apple Store. Keep in mind, however, that inventory tends to be in high demand, so options are limited.
Amazon: Amazon is a great place to find online options collected from a variety of vendors, including Apple R Us and Open Electronics. Always look for a high user rating before you think about buying, however, and keep in mind that many of the available models only differ slightly, so it can be difficult to find what you want.
PowerMax: PowerMax is a Premier Partner with Apple for Macs, iPads, and iPhones, and it provides a 120-day warranty for used Macs. The site is harder to navigate and use than something like the Apple Refurbished Store, though, so some patience is required.
Best Buy: Best Buy is an Apple Authorized Service Provider. In addition to offering repairs when an Apple Store isn't available, this chain sells a limited number of refurbished Macs through its own program. They're frequently sold out, but if you're a Best Buy customer and can get loyalty points or other benefits, it's definitely worth a glance.
Price is one of the most important factors of a sweet deal, but there are other things to consider. Whether searching the refurbished section of Apple's website or exploring other vendors, here's what to watch for:
If you decide to utilize lesser-known thirty-party suppliers, here are signs of a deal you should avoid:
Anthropic has officially filed to go public, and buried inside its S-1 is a blunt warning about the technology at the center of its business. The maker of Claude AI says advanced AI could cause everything from large-scale cyberattacks and geopolitical instability to catastrophic or even existential risks for humanity.
The warnings take up a surprisingly large part of the filing. Axios notes that more than 90 pages, or roughly a third of the prospectus, focus on risk factors. Many of them warn about what could happen as AI systems become more capable and autonomous.
AI giants have a growing autonomy problem on their hands. A new Axios report has revealed that Anthropic's Claude recently accessed publicly available Georgia vote count without human authorization, sparking fresh concerns about AI security ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Some of the best shots in Grok Imagine’s AI-made Odyssey don’t contain actors. Ancient landscapes stretch into the distance. Close-ups of grimy hands suggest people who have touched something rougher than a keyboard. For a few seconds, the illusion holds.
https://twitter.com/imagine/status/2113712964419063911