Looking to Save Money on Tech? Consider Buying Refurbished

Major brands offer discounts with warranties. But are ‘used’ electronics safe?

Edward C. Baig,

AARP

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Published January 14, 2025

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images (3))

I’d like to buy a nice new computer and maybe phone but don’t want to spend a fortune. I understand I can get refurbished gear, sometimes with steep discounts. Are such purchases risky?

I understand why you’re asking. Buying used often can save substantial cash, but many used products do come with baggage. No one wants to get stuck with a lemon.

That said, you may see discounts of 15 percent or higher on tech products that have barely been used. You can protect yourself by ensuring such products include a warranty and return guarantee and are purchased through reputable manufacturers and retailers.

Tech marketers generally avoid the hyperbole heard on a used car lot: “the steal of a lifetime,” “Grandma drove it only to church and back.” But they’ll do their utmost to make used tech products sound more appealing.

Indeed, such products are never labeled “used,” which could give a distinctly down-market vibe. Instead, they’re “pre-owned,” “refurbished,” “certified renewed.” Sometimes the messaging is even more gentle.

Apple’s official certified online store is a place you’ll find Macs, iPhones and other products the company insists are “designed for an encore.”

At Google’s store for certified products, potential smartphone buyers are encouraged to “find your pre-loved Pixel,” which after being inspected, certified and tested is “restored to Google standards.”

Make sure you’re satisfied with answers to these questions

You’ll want to always ask:

Why was a, um, loved product returned in the first place?
What was — or potentially is — wrong with the device?
Was it used much, or is it in the high-tech equivalent of a thrift store because of a barely noticeable blemish that doesn’t affect the machine’s performance?
While the outside looks pristine, what about the internal parts? Are those new?

Typically, you can minimize major risks when you purchase second-hand electronics from major retailers, or first-tier manufacturers of personal computers and other tech gear.

Dig in on these 7 ways to determine the best buy for you

You’ll have to do your research to make sure you understand the lingo and don’t set yourself up for a raw deal.

1. Know the seller. Major tech brands and retailers wouldn’t knowingly re-release inferior products. That would damage their reputations. That should be your expectation anyway.

2. Check the fine print on condition. Refurbished computers, smartphones and other electronics sold directly through industry mainstays are thoroughly cleaned, carefully inspected and rigorously tested to make sure they measure up to stringent standards.

But companies have different ways to determine whether a product has been certified, merely refurbished, or some combination.

Ask the Tech Guru

Samsung says products don’t achieve a “Certified Re-Newed” designation until they complete a 147-point quality test. Samsung and Apple are among companies that put in new batteries and, where warranted, replace parts with their own.

At the online Dell Outlet store, the laptops’ condition are categorized as New; Like New (Refurbished); and Scratch & Dent, which Dell describes as certified refurbished computers “with blemishes that do not affect performance.” Dell adds that scratch-and-dent machines don’t have pits or scratches on the screen, missing or illegible letters on the keyboard, or damage to the palm rest or touch pad.

Best Buy lists four categories for products sold in its online outlet: Clearance, described as a new device a manufacturer has discontinued; Open Box, products in excellent, good or fair condition that were returned; Refurbished, products repaired and restored to “like new” status with warranties that vary; and Pre-owned, products restored and verified to work but with warranty statuses that vary.

3. Get every accessory and manual. Make sure you’ll receive everything that a buyer would have if it were new, and it should be in a new box. Just because a product isn’t brand-spanking new, nothing should be left out.

4. Insist on a full warranty. Terms will vary by company and retailer, but you should receive the same warranty as if you were purchasing new.

Also, make sure you can return a product if you’re not satisfied or something goes wrong within a reasonable period. eBay says refurbished products it sells carry at least a one-year warranty and sometimes two.

5. See if you can extend the warranty. In Apple’s case, you’re eligible to add AppleCare+ for extra service and support when you buy refurbished.

The same goes for supplemental warranty coverage from Samsung and other companies when you buy pre-owned. Keep in mind that you may also be able to bolster coverage as a benefit that comes with the credit card you used to make the purchase.

6. Consider a trade-in. A lower price is never quite low enough. You can reduce the tab even further with a trade-in, even when buying pre-owned.

7. Compare discounted to retail. The size and scope of discounts will vary by product type, availability and the seller. Poke around the full-priced site of a brand or brands you like, check their refurbished sites or online outlets, and canvas the listings, which are going to change.

Here are recent examples I found:

Google listed refurbished Pixel Pro 7 phones starting at $629, $270 off the original $899 retail price.
Apple shaved $170 off a refurbished 13-inch MacBook Air laptop, dropping the price to $829.
A seventh-edition certified refurbished Microsoft Surface Laptop, Copilot + PC was listed at Microsoft’s online store for $900, $112.50 off the regular price.
The Dell outlet price on a scratch-and-dent Dell Inspiron 16-inch Plus 7630 laptop was $684, down from $1,200.

Consider one more thing when you’re considering buying refurbished. Beyond potentially saving a lot of money, you’re pitching in to help the environment.

Bonus tip: A more versatile iPhone calculator

iPhone users have long been able to transform Apple’s basic arithmetic calculator into a more capable scientific calculator by tilting the phone from vertical or portrait mode to horizontal. A scientific calculator features “sin,” “cos,” “tan” — for the trigonometry functions sine, cosine and tangent — and other advanced math equations.

With the recent iOS 18 software update, Apple lets you surface the scientific calculator in either landscape or portrait orientation. To switch back and forth, tap the calculator symbol at the bottom left of the app, which also gives you a choice of 15 conversion calculators such as for currency or length.

The revamped Calculator app, which in some cases plays catch-up to features found on certain Android devices, will now let you store past calculations, kind of like an adding machine but without the paper tape.

Apple has also integrated the Calculator app with the Notes app, letting you solve mathematical expressions, use variables, draw graph equations and so on. You might mix different systems too, adding, for example, 39 meters + 155 feet. Tap Math Notes to get started.

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.