Stop Buying New Apple Devices
Love Apple or hate it, we can all agree on one thing: their products are expensive . Apple iPhones can cost upwards of $1,000, and MacBooks require a mortgage just to look at them. The point is, you don’t have to buy these devices new to get the benefits of buying new.
The best way to buy an Apple is to buy a refurbished . If you haven’t heard of the Apple Certified Refurbished Store, it’s probably because Apple doesn’t advertise it much. After all, the company would prefer that you buy one of its latest products from the front page of its site. But if you’re not going to, he’d still like to sell you something, even if it’s something that was previously used.
In a certified refurbished store, Apple sells used devices at a discount. Depending on the device, the price reduction can be modest or generous. As of this writing, you can get a refurbished MacBook Air M1 for 15% off, leaving it at $849 instead of $999. Apple is offering this refurbished 512GB iPhone 11 Pro Max for $899, $400 less than its retail price. This is a 30% discount.
All of these devices have a different story: some of them may be returned by customers due to a defect, such as a dead pixel on a MacBook display or an iPhone that cannot make calls. Others may be old devices that customers trade in for new ones, such as when someone upgrades from an iPhone 11 to an iPhone 14. Still others may be “open box” devices where customers decide they don’t need a product within 14-. day return period, but used the device, which prevents Apple from selling the product as new to another customer.
You won’t know the history of your device when you buy it refurbished. All you will know is that other certified refurbished devices go through the same quality control process to ensure they are in good working order. Devices like the iPhone are getting new batteries and new outer shells, so they should last all day and look brand new. All devices undergo “rigorous” testing and cleaning to meet certain standards set by Apple. Best of all, they come with the same one-year warranty as new Apple products, so if anything goes wrong in that window, Apple will fix it for you. You can even add AppleCare+ to your device if you like.
Another unknown benefit is that these devices are eligible for free Apple services. If a product comes with a 4-month Apple News+ trial, a 3-month Apple Music trial, and a 3-month Apple TV+ trial, you’ll receive it with a refurbished product in the same way as the brand. new, expanding the value even more.
This also applies to purchasing refurbished devices through an Apple Authorized Reseller . If you find a good deal on refurbished Beats through Best Buy, jump in! You’ll save and get free Apple benefits. Just double check your warranty status when you go outside of Apple directly. Stores have their own limited warranties (Best Buy has 90 days), and purchases are not automatically covered by Apple’s one-year warranty. But a simple call to Apple Support with a sales receipt is all it takes to activate the warranty, so it’s a safe bet.
Of course, restored items are not mass-produced. Apple or one of its resellers only have what they have, based on items returned by customers. That’s why you’ll see huge turnover in these refurbished stores. Once something is gone, it is gone. If you see a good deal on an Apple device you’re eyeing, don’t assume it will be there in the morning.
Now, when it comes to used appliances, there are many options. You may find that prices for refurbished Apple devices are still a little high compared to the big discounts you find on other used sites. You can probably save more money by buying used, not refurbished ones, but that’s a compromise. You lose the protection that Apple provides with its quality control and one-year warranty, which means you risk a discounted MacBook not working properly. Also, an eBay seller won’t give you a free trial of Apple Music, and we all know that’s why we buy Apple devices in the first place.