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Forget buying new — these 15 refurbished deals could save you thousands on a MacBook, gaming laptop, iPad, and more

Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop on a wooden desk
De bedste bærbare til studerende (Image credit: Future)

Laptops and tablets are getting pricier and pricier these days. Inflation is one thing, but the cost of components has really spiralled this past year. Subsequently, getting a decent new machine on a budget is getting trickier — especially if you're a college student without much cash to spend.

There is a great alternative, however: buying used. That's particularly the case with a specialist retailer like Back Market, which provides professional refurbishment and warranty on machines that we've personally tested and loved here at TechRadar.

For example, if you just want a solid, good-quality laptop, you can get the MacBook Air M1 for $437 (was $999) or the MacBook Pro M1 for $592 (was $1,499). These machines were absolutely groundbreaking when they came out, and even though they're a few years old now, they're still great for handling the basics.

If you prefer Windows, you can get machines like this Dell Latitude for $292 (was $1,600) or this Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 for $396 (was $999). Both of these machines are still great. And, at this price, they challenge some brand-new Chromebooks when it comes to value. The difference here is that these are full Windows laptops, so you'll be able to run plenty of apps on them.

I've found a total of 15 deals to check out at Back Market today. You can check them out in more detail below, including specific sections for MacBooks, Windows machines (including gaming laptops), and tablets.

Back Market Windows laptop deals

Dell  Latitude 7330
Dell Latitude 7330: was $1,614.99 now $292.99 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Intel Core i5 (12th gen)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB

This Dell Latitude 7330 is the very definition of a workhorse laptop and a great choice if you just need the basics. At under $300, this one is as cheap as some of the cheapest Chromebooks on the market, and I would argue it's a great alternative considering it comes with 16GB of RAM. While it doesn't have a lot of storage, this 13-inch laptop is a good option if you want a portable, lightweight machine that can handle web browsing, emails, or basic studying tasks.

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Dell Precision 3470
Dell Precision 3470: was $3,121 now $375 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Intel Core i5 (12th gen)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This Dell Precision is another basic machine for professional use or study, but it's slightly bigger at 14 inches, and it also features a larger 512GB storage drive. This is a very sensible 'all-rounder' if you want something for mostly browser-based tasks. A 12th-gen Intel Core i5 chipset still holds up well if you're just working through tabs or streaming videos.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4: was $1,049 now $396 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Intel Core i5 (11th gen)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

This Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a bargain if you just want a stylish machine to cover the basics. With 8GB of RAM and a Core i5, you won't get high-end performance out of this laptop, but it's perfect for watching videos, studying, and typing out documents. At 13 inches, the Surface Laptop is great for throwing in a bag, and you also get a decent-sized 512GB storage drive.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G9
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G9: was $2,147 now $500 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Intel Core i7 (11th gen)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is a staple of offices everywhere, and this 14-inch Windows 11 laptop is definitely a great choice for students, too. It's lightweight, robust, and understated - perfect if you don't want anything too flashy. This particular listing is for a decent Core i7 / 16GB RAM configuration, which is great for covering both the basics and more intensive tasks. You'll have no issues with everyday performance with this excellent laptop.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G6
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G6: was $1,997 now $500 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Intel Core i7 (11th gen)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

Here's another great listing on a reliable Lenovo ThinkPad machine, this time on a Yoga G6. This particular machine features a touchscreen and a handy 2-in-1 convertible form factor that allows you to use it as both a laptop or tablet. For the price, that's pretty compelling - and, you also get a really nice combination of an 11th gen Core i7 chipset and 16GB of RAM, giving you plenty of performance for even relatively demanding tasks.

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Razer Blade 14
Razer Blade 14: was $2,899.99 now $1,097 at Back Market (US)

Graphics card: RTX 3080
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9-5900HX
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

Razer's smaller 13-inch and 14-inch laptops have always been a dream for college gamers. Yes, they're pricey, but these stunning MacBook-like machines pack in some serious components into a very premium (and small) package. This Razer Blade 14 is two generations old now, but the combination of an RTX 3080 and a Ryzen 9 chipset means that it will still play all the latest games pretty well.

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Back Market MacBook deals

'Ugly' Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Great deal
'Ugly' Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021): was $2,399 now $726 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Apple M1 Pro
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This has to be one of the best 'bang for the buck' laptops on the entire Back Market site right now: the venerable (but still good) MacBook Pro M1. This is a great price for the 16-inch model specifically, with the only caveat being that this is an 'ugly' listing, meaning that it has visible sticker marks on the chassis. To me, that sounds like a good opportunity to add your own stickers and otherwise enjoy this great laptop. At 16 inches, it's a little bigger than some MacBooks, but it will be good for more stationary setups, and the M1 Pro chipset is still fantastic for intensive tasks like music production, video, or even light gaming.

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Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1)
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1): was $1,299 now $417 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Apple M1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Air M1 is pretty old now, but it's still in contention for the title of best cheap MacBook alongside the new MacBook Neo. This was the first model to boast Apple's groundbreaking 'M' series ARM chipsets, and it still holds up great for most tasks. Aside from the slightly dated display with thicker bezels, the MacBook Air M1 still looks great and should perform well enough for students or people who just want the basics.

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Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M1)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M1): was $1,299 now $564 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Apple M1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

You really can't go wrong with a MacBook Pro if you're looking for a laptop for work or college — even one as old as the MacBook Pro 13 M1. This was one of the first models to carry Apple's ground-breaking first-gen 'M' chipset, and it's still plenty powerful for even relatively demanding applications like music production and video work (within reason). The built-in fans in the MacBook Pro allow it to squeeze more performance out of the chipset than the one featured in the MacBook Air. I'd recommend upgrading to the 16GB RAM configuration here for the smoothest possible experience, especially because it's cheap to do so at Back Market.

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Apple MacBook Air 13 (M2)
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M2): was $1,299 now $649 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Apple M2
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

Getting a slightly older MacBook like this M2 model is a fantastic choice if you're looking to save the cash. Outwardly, this device still looks very modern, and the M2 chipset is still fantastic for browsing, streaming, studying, and even relatively demanding tasks. This listing at Back Market is for the entry-level 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD configuration, but you can upgrade to the larger 512GB model for relatively cheap, too.

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Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M2)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M2): was $1,299 now $769 at Back Market (US)

Processor: Apple M2
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Pro 13 M2 is a modest upgrade over the M1, but the improved chipset features better battery life and a small bump in performance — enough to justify the upgrade if you can afford it. As with other devices at Back Market, I'd recommend shopping around for a configuration with 16GB of RAM, as it really helps with the more demanding applications these days.

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Back Market tablet deals

Apple iPad 10 (2022)
Apple iPad 10 (2022): was $499 now $285 at Back Market (US)

If I were a student looking for a tablet to cover the basics, I'd go for this Apple iPad 10 listing at Back Market. This model is a fantastic entry point into the world of iPads, offering a good mix of performance and value. Inside, it features the same chipset as one of the older iPhone models, so you get smooth browsing and streaming here. The base iPad isn't meant for high-end work, but for recreational use, it's a great choice.

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Apple iPad Air 5 (2022, M1)
Apple iPad Air 5 (2022, M1): was $749 now $320 at Back Market (US)

The iPad Air 5 rocks the legendary M1 chipset — a much older processor now, but one that massively surprised us when it first debuted. It's a chipset that's still very capable for the wide majority of tasks and provides good battery life, too. While the Air isn't as powerful as the Pro, it's a good mid-tier option between the standard iPad and the higher-end models. It's lightweight, powerful, and features a great display.

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Apple iPad Pro (2022, M2)
Apple iPad Pro (2022, M2): was $999 now $590 at Back Market (US)

The iPad Pro from 2022 is an older device now, but it's still a fantastic tablet if you need something with plenty of power. The differences between this one and the latest model drill down to the chipset and display, mostly. It's a little slower than the newer model, but still wildly quick, and you get an LCD display rather than an OLED panel. Considering Back Market's current price, this one is definitely a strong choice for students.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (2023)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (2023): was $1,099.99 now $523 at Back Market (US)

The Galaxy Tab S9 is a premium Android tablet with a fantastic AMOLED display and lovely minimalist design. Like the A11 above, it's a great alternative to the likes of the latest iPads if you'd prefer to go for the Android OS. Overall, the S9 isn't super cheap, but it is a versatile pick with its all-aluminum body, vibrant design, and speedy Snapdragon chipset.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+: was $349.99 now $240 at Back Market (US)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ is a great choice if you'd prefer to go with Android over the standard iPad. It's not the most powerful tablet in the world, but it's great for the basics like web browsing or watching videos. If you just want a great tablet that works for note-taking or documents, then this is a fantastic option at Back Market.

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Alex Whitelock
Retail Editor

Alex is TechRadar's retail editor, specializing in buying advice and general tips on how to save our readers as much cash as possible. He's covered major retail events in some capacity for over seven years now; both in editorial and other ecommerce adjacent roles on TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, and other Future PLC sites. Alex's expertise touches on most areas, but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer.