Our Guide to Buying the Best Refurbished Laptops
01 January 2024
If you're looking for a cheap portable PC, refurbished laptops are the way to go.
Although they are not as aesthetically pleasing as brand new devices, refurbished laptops function exactly as they did when they left the factory and typically cost a fraction of the price.
What is a Refurbished Laptop?
A refurbished laptop has been restored to factory settings, had its data erased, and any malfunctioning parts replaced and cleaned. Refurbished laptops occasionally come with warranties, but not always.
Second-hand laptops are typically sold in their current state; as a result, the condition of second-hand laptops can range from spare parts to never used.
Refurbished laptops are typically sold by a manufacturer, retailer, or reseller, such as ourselves. Most refurbished laptops will be graded by quality when they are posted to an online store. The grading scale will differ depending on the online store or manufacturer, but it should give you a good idea of the laptop's quality.
The only real differences between refurbished laptops and new laptops are potential cosmetic flaws and the length of the warranty. If the refurbished laptop you're thinking about buying doesn't come with a warranty, we recommend you look elsewhere.
With so many online retailers offering low-cost refurbished devices, it can be difficult to know where to begin your search for a refurbished laptop. That's where we can help.
A must-have checklist for purchasing a refurbished laptop
- Request a copy of the original receipt or proof of purchase.
To ensure that the item you're purchasing is genuine, request a physical or digital receipt. If the device is still under warranty, the receipt will come in handy if you need to file a claim. Most sellers should provide this without prompting – it's typically displayed among the photos in the product listing. If they don't have one or refuse to give it to you, stay away.
- Look for a return policy.
There are no casual sellers who offer a return policy, but some people sell goods professionally on websites like eBay and have well-established eBay stores. If you are dissatisfied with the product, merchants like this may provide a 30-day or even 90-day return window. Of course, 90 days is no match for a one-year warranty on refurbished laptops, and you should also look into how long the seller has been in business and read the customer reviews to ensure that they follow through on their policy.
- Make sure it works.
It's a no-brainer, but it's nonetheless significant. Turn on the laptop and experiment for a few minutes. Check for external flaws and ensure that all charging components are present and correct. If you have any doubts, don't spend your money. That slightly shaky power socket isn't going to get any stronger with more use.
- Reset to factory settings
Check that the laptop has been factory reset before agreeing to meet the seller to buy it. You don't want a device containing a stranger's personal login information, files, and internet history for a variety of reasons.
- Pay securely
If you're doing it in person, avoid bringing large sums of cash with you. PayPal is an excellent choice because the money is held by a middleman service before being transferred to the seller. Having a digital record of the payment makes it much easier to locate the seller if something goes wrong.
How much should I budget for?
Refurbished laptops are significantly less expensive than brand new laptops, so you will spend much less money.
However, your budget must still be considered. It may be a worthwhile time and money investment depending on how much you are willing to spend and what you use the laptop for, such as work, studying, creative suite, or general web use.
Refurbished Laptops for Less Than 200€
Even when brand new, laptops under 200€ are generally not the most powerful machines on the market unless they have been upgraded. Most new laptops purchased from a manufacturer have not been upgraded or customized.
Laptops under 200€ typically have smaller and slower processors than more expensive models. Many laptops under 200€ have only 4GB of RAM, making them only suitable for web browsing or word processing.
Too many windows open or too many tasks running at the same time will cause them to significantly slow down. A Lenovo Ideapad 110s, for example, has only 2GB of RAM and cannot handle too many tasks without closing other programs.
As a result, it is unsuitable for any complex tasks such as gaming or video editing. A refurbished laptop with the same specs can be purchased for much less than 200€ and perform just as well as a brand new one.