Refurbished Apple products are available this week and we've got a full list just down below of what's on offer. We are, however, seeing stock levels in a state of flux right now with prices changing weekly. If you're looking for a cheap refurbished MacBook, iPad, or Apple Watch deal then it might be wiser to hold off and pick up a brand new model directly from the Apple Store or from the major retailers - these are only slightly more expensive currently.
If you do go refurbished, at the Apple store you'll find a range of devices available with excellent warranties, new cases, and all the cables you'd usually pick up with a new model. We're rounding up some of the latest Apple refurbished deals from other retailers around the web further below as well, so you'll get a full picture of what's available. It's also worth keeping an eye out on new prices alongside these sales right now as well, as sometimes you might find a brand new product for cheap.
When shopping for Apple refurbished products, you'll want to take notice of the retailer's rating system. It can tell you a lot about the condition of the product you're picking up - whether it's pretty much brand new, or if you can expect a few surface nicks here and there.
More often than not, you're picking up a second-hand product which means you may find a few scratches or corner bumps that have brought the price down, but if you're looking for the cheapest way to pick up these expensive products you may not mind some wear and tear.
We've been scouring the web for the cheapest Apple refurbished iPads, MacBooks and Apple Watches to bring you the best prices from retailers you can trust. Plus, we've even got some handy hints for shopping Apple refurbished further down the page.
- Shop refurbished iPhones today
The best Apple refurbished iPad deals
The best Apple refurbished MacBook deals
The best refurbished Apple Watch deals
Where to shop for the best Apple refurbished deals
Why buy refurbished Apple products?
If you've been shopping for a laptop, tablet, or smartwatch over the last few years, you'll know that the Apple tax is real. Apple offers luxury products at a premium price tag, and yet it always seems like everyone has the latest model. Refurbished Apple products do away with these luxury price tags, for the most part. By sacrificing the chance of a few cosmetic scratches, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars, and as long as you know where to shop, the process these days can be painless and easy.
Refurbished iPads are becoming more and more common with the release of each new model, and even refurbished MacBooks are now easy to find across major retailers. As each new version is released, expect to see a flurry of refurbished Apple products hitting store shelves after the trade-in period.
Even refurbished Apple Watches are cropping up more and more now that we're into our fifth generation. Plus, with each model supporting Watch OS 6, it's easy to pick up a cheap watch that offers most of the latest features at a surprising discount.
How to find good refurbished iPad deals
The process of buying a good refurbished iPad starts with the retailer. If you're shopping with Amazon, Apple, or Best Buy, you'll be safe in the knowledge that you've got a solid storefront behind you, offering rigorous testing and guarantees to put your mind at rest. Shopping through more open sites like Newegg and Walmart marketplace, however, require a little bit of review and rating digging to make sure the retailer is up to snuff.
In terms of refurbished iPad models, there are a few out there you might want to consider more carefully, no matter how low the price tag. Generally speaking, anything that won't support the latest version of iPad OS won't be able to hack heavier usage. That includes flagship iPad models up to and including the iPad 4th generation, the original iPad Air, and iPad Mini up to Mini 3. There are still light uses for these models, so you will be able to get away with an iPad Mini 3 or the iPad Air for pure streaming or web browsing on the cheap, but models before these will likely run too slow to be worth your cash. If we list a refurbished iPad Air or Mini 3 here, we'll make sure you know there won't be any further iPad OS updates.
Refurbished MacBook deals: how to make sure you're getting a good price
Once you've found a trusted retailer for your refurbished MacBook, you'll want to make sure the model you're picking up is worth its price even if that cost does look low. Some of the cheapest refurbished MacBooks on offer are also the oldest, and despite the alluring price tag, they simply won't be able to keep up with the programs you want to run in 2020.
If you're picking up a new everyday computer for light email, web browsing, and streaming, but still want that Apple spark, the earliest we'd recommend is a 2013 model. Even then, you'll be grabbing a MacBook at the cheapest price worth paying for a model of its age and will be fairly limited in terms of programs and MacOS features.
It's generally a better idea to start your search around the mid-2014 / 2015 spectrum for a workable MacBook. These computers hold their value exceedingly well, so a five or six-year-old luxury laptop will still stand up to most of today's mid-range programs MacOS features.
If you're looking for a Touch Bar or something with a bit more processing power than 2015 could produce, you'll also find excellent refurbished MacBook deals on models up to 2018's offerings as well.
Buying refurbished Apple Watch deals: what to look out for
As with a lot of refurbished Apple products, you'll want to start your purchase by finding a trusted refurbished Apple Watch retailer. Amazon, Apple and Best Buy all operate their own renewal programs that offer solid testing as well as varying warranties and guarantees after purchase. If you choose to take a lower price from a marketplace vendor like Newegg or Walmart, you can still pick up a fantastic device but you'll need to do a little more work to check reviews and ratings on the retailer you're buying from.
If you're still looking for the best refurbished Apple Watch model to buy, it's worth bearing in mind that the only version you may want to fully disregard is the original Series 1. We're seeing prices on this early Apple Watch that come too close to the price of the Series 2 to warrant a purchase of the outdated model.
If you're looking at a Series 2, know that you'll still be picking up a functional fitness tracker with iPhone integration for notifications, calls, and music, but the processing speed may be slower than the Series 3 and 4. That's fine if you're just grabbing a cheap refurbished Apple Watch to do a simple job, but if you're looking for something with a bit more power, we'd recommend starting your search with a Series 3.
- See more cheap Apple Watch deals and the best iPad deals
