Buying a Refurbished MacBook: The Complete 2026 Guide

I bought my first refurbished MacBook three years ago. Back then, I was skeptical. Worried about hidden defects. Wondering if "refurbished" was just a fancy word for "somebody else's problem." Spoiler: That MacBook Air M1 still runs perfectly, has 92% battery capacity, and cost me nearly 600 euros less than buying new.

What does buying a refurbished MacBook actually mean? A refurbished MacBook is a used Apple device that's been professionally restored. This means: tested, cleaned, repaired if necessary, and sold with at least 12 months of warranty. Unlike privately sold used devices, refurbished Macs go through a standardized quality process. According to MakeUseOf, every refurbished Mac goes through quality checks with testing and fixes by certified technicians, while used Macs receive no standardized testing at all.

If you're weighing whether a refurbished MacBook is right for you, you're in the right place. I'll walk you through what to watch out for when buying a refurbished MacBook, which platforms in Germany are trustworthy, and which model fits your budget.

Refurbished vs. Used: The Important Distinction

My colleague spent 380 euros last year on a "used" MacBook Pro from eBay. Two weeks later, it wouldn't turn on. The seller ghosted her. Money gone. If she'd known what "refurbished" meant, that wouldn't have happened.

Used means: Someone sells their old MacBook on eBay or similar platforms. No warranty, no testing, no quality control. You're buying blind.

Refurbished means: The device was purchased by a professional dealer, completely checked, cleaned, and tested. Defective components get replaced. At the end, you get warranty coverage just like buying new.

The difference shows up the moment something goes wrong. With a private sale on eBay, you've got almost no chance of getting your money back. With refurbed, Back Market, or other certified platforms, you ship the device back and get a replacement or refund.

If you want to buy a used MacBook instead of refurbished, you should know: with private sales, you carry all the risk alone.

Why Buy a Refurbished MacBook? Three Main Reasons

1. Save €400+ (Without Compromising Quality)

A new MacBook Air M4 with 16GB RAM costs 1,529 euros at Apple. The same model refurbished? Between 1,100 and 1,300 euros, depending on platform and condition. With older models like the M1 or M2, the savings are even bigger.

Specifically: If you buy a refurbished MacBook Air M1 with 8GB RAM, you'll pay 600 to 750 euros. That model sold for 1,129 euros new in 2020. That's over 400 euros saved on a device that'll still receive macOS updates for at least two to three more years.

2. 80% Less CO2 (And That's Not Marketing Fluff)

80% less CO2 per device. Not 8%. Eighty. According to the ADEME study (French Environment and Energy Management Agency), one refurbished laptop saves the CO2 emissions of a flight from Paris to London. Every time you buy a refurbished device instead of new.

GreenCitizen research shows that extending electronics life by one year saves the EU 4 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. And according to environmental research, refurbished products reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% per unit compared to new devices.

Before you ask: No, this isn't greenwashing where companies plant a tree and call themselves sustainable. The ADEME study is peer-reviewed. The numbers are real.

3. Apple Lasts Forever (Even When They're Not New)

MacBooks last forever. At least compared to most Windows laptops. According to Macworld's historical analysis, Macs receive about 5 to 7 years of macOS updates. That means an M1 MacBook from 2020 will likely be supported with the latest software until at least 2027 or 2028.

A refurbished M1 MacBook Air for 650 euros that'll get three more years of full software support? That's a damn good deal.

Where Should You Buy a Refurbished MacBook? The Best Platforms

I've personally checked out all the major platforms - compared prices, read warranties, dug through user reviews. Back Market isn't the same as refurbed isn't the same as Apple. The differences are bigger than you think.

Overview: Platform Comparison 2026

According to Zeit-Geist's Stiftung Warentest analysis, Back Market achieved first place with a test score of 1.8 in February 2023.

Back Market

Back Market: The Amazon of refurbished platforms. You're not buying from Back Market itself, but from one of their vetted sellers. This means: Huge selection (over 50 MacBook models at once), often the lowest prices, but also occasionally a seller whose packaging looks like it survived World War II.

What's good: 30-day returns, no questions asked. Stiftung Warentest score 1.8 (best in test, February 2023).

What can be annoying: Delivery sometimes takes a week instead of two days. And you don't know exactly which seller refurbished your MacBook beforehand.

refurbed

refurbed is an Austrian company with a strong sustainability focus. They plant a tree for every device sold. Prices are sometimes slightly higher than Back Market, but their quality control is considered reliable. If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook and value sustainability, this is a good choice.

Pros: Sustainability focus, solid quality control, German-speaking support
Cons: Sometimes pricier, shorter standard warranty than some competitors

asgoodasnew

This German company stands out with an exceptionally long warranty of 30 months. That's 2.5 years of coverage. If you want to play it safe when buying a refurbished MacBook, this is a good choice.

Pros: 30-month warranty, 30-day trial period, German company
Cons: Smaller selection than Back Market

Apple Certified Refurbished

Apple itself sells refurbished Macs in their online store. The advantage: Devices look like new, have a new battery, and come with full Apple warranty. The disadvantage: Savings are smaller (usually only 15-20%).

Classic Apple move: Even with used goods, they charge the premium brand price. But hey, at least you have the certainty that it really comes from Apple.

As RefurbMe explains, each device is tested and certified by Apple itself to ensure it meets the company's functional standards.

Pros: Apple quality, new battery, like-new condition
Cons: Lower savings, limited selection

Which Refurbished MacBook Model Is Right for You?

Now you know WHERE to buy. The question remains: WHICH MacBook? The answer doesn't just depend on your budget, but also on what you plan to do with it.

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook, your model choice depends on two factors: budget and use case.

Under 800 Euros: MacBook Air M1 (2020)

The MacBook Air M1 is the best entry point if you want to buy a refurbished MacBook. For 600 to 750 euros, you get a device that works perfectly for 95% of users: office work, browsing, streaming, Zoom calls, light photo editing.

Best for: Students, home office users, casual users
Limitation: 8GB RAM gets tight with many open tabs. If possible, get the 16GB version.

800 to 1,300 Euros: MacBook Air M2 or M3 with 16GB

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook with more budget, this price segment gets you significantly more power and, crucially, more RAM. According to Macworld's configuration guide, 16GB is good enough for most people and should handle gaming, light coding, and enthusiast-level image and video editing.

The refurbished MacBook Air M2 is particularly popular in this price segment.

Best for: Power users, creatives, developers with moderate needs
Tip: The M3 only delivers 10-15% more performance over the M2. If you save 100 euros on an M2 with 16GB, take the M2.

1,300 to 1,600 Euros: MacBook Air M4 or MacBook Pro M3

Things get interesting here. For this budget, you can get either a near-mint MacBook Air M4 or a refurbished MacBook Pro M3 14".

MacBook Air M4: Latest chip, fanless design, perfect for mobile use
MacBook Pro M3: Active cooling, more ports, better for intensive tasks

Simple test: Open your laptop right now. Do you hear fan noise? If yes, you probably need a Pro. If no (or you have no idea if your laptop has fans), the Air is enough.

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro and use it professionally to earn money (video editing, development, music production), get the Pro. For everything else, the Air is enough.

Over 1,800 Euros: MacBook Pro M4 or M3 Pro/Max

This segment is about maximum performance. If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro with M3 Pro or M4 chip, expect to pay between 1,800 and 2,500 euros, depending on configuration.

Best for: Video professionals, 3D artists, developers running Docker and VMs
Tip: The Max variants only make sense for extreme workloads. For 90% of "professionals," the Pro chip is plenty.

RAM: How Much Do You Actually Need When Buying a Refurbished MacBook?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: 8GB RAM is tight in 2026. Not unusable, but tight. You'll have to close tabs. Apps will lag briefly when switching. After two years, it'll get noticeably worse.

Apple knows this. That's why they now ship the M4 MacBook Air with 16GB as standard. That's no coincidence.

Still: If your budget tops out at 700 euros and the choice is between M1 with 8GB or no MacBook at all - take the 8GB. But plan to upgrade in 2-3 years.

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook, RAM is particularly important in Apple Silicon Macs because you CAN'T upgrade it later. Your decision at purchase is final.

RAM Recommendations by Use Case

My buddy Tom bought an M2 MacBook Air with 8GB last year. "That's enough," he said. Three months later, he complains every time he has Lightroom AND Chrome open. His tabs reload, his computer swaps to the SSD. Should've spent the extra 200 euros, Tom.

If you buy a refurbished MacBook with 8GB, expect it to start showing its limits in 2-3 years.

Buy a Refurbished MacBook: The Complete Checklist

Before you should buy a refurbished MacBook, there are some important points to check. This checklist helps you avoid bad purchases and get the best device for your money.

Before You Buy

1. Battery Condition and Cycle Count

Apple's official documentation states that recent MacBooks have a maximum cycle count of 1,000 cycles before the battery reaches 80% of its original capacity.

How to evaluate battery condition when buying a refurbished MacBook:

Heise Online's comprehensive checklist warns that if a MacBook's trackpad sticks or is unresponsive, the battery underneath may have swollen. Replacement through Apple costs 139-209 euros depending on model.

Where to find this data:
Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → Hardware → Power

2. Activation Lock (Find My Mac)

This is the most common scam with used Macs. If "Find My Mac" is still active, you can't use the MacBook. It's basically a brick.

How to avoid this:

1. Have the seller show you: System Preferences → Apple ID → iCloud → "Find My" is OFF
2. The seller signs out of iCloud in front of you
3. The device boots to the setup screen with no previous account

With reputable platforms like Back Market or refurbed, this isn't an issue. They remove the activation lock before selling. But for private purchases: Never pay until you've verified this.

3. Understanding Condition Grades

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook, you'll find condition grades on all platforms (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or similar). As RefurbMe explains, refurbished grades concern aesthetics only. Whatever cosmetic grade a device has, it's passed all functional tests.

My recommendation: "Very Good" or "Good" offer the best value. You won't notice the scratches after a week anyway.

After Purchase: The 14-Day Checklist

You have at least 14 days return rights with all reputable dealers (often 30 days). Use this time.

Day 1 (the first 30 minutes):

Yeah, I know - you want to finally get started. But take half an hour for the basics. If the battery's dead or the activation lock is active, you want to know NOW, not in 15 days when the return window closes.

Check this:

• Battery health: Does it really say "93% capacity" as promised? Or is it 84% and you were lied to?

• Enter serial number at checkcoverage.apple.com - is the device registered with Apple? Does the purchase date match?

• Open "Find My" - if there's ANY account logged in, ship it back immediately

Days 1-3 (daily use):

Now comes the reality check. Use the MacBook like you normally would. No babying it. If there are problems, they should show up NOW.

• Test all ports (USB-C, Thunderbolt, headphone, MagSafe if applicable)

• Keyboard: Do all keys work?

• Trackpad: Clicks cleanly, no delay?

• Display: Check for dead pixels (white screen, then black screen)

Days 3-7:

• Heavy usage: Does the device run stable under load?

• Battery test: How long does it last with your normal use?

• Fan (on Pro): Spins up normally, no unusual sounds?

Days 7-14:

• Real workflow test: Does everything work for your work?

• If anything's off: Send it back. No discussion.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Refurbished MacBook

When buying a refurbished MacBook, there are typical pitfalls. Avoid these five mistakes at all costs:

Mistake 1: Ignoring Activation Lock

I'm repeating this because it's that important: For private purchases, ALWAYS verify Find My Mac is disabled. A locked MacBook can only be unlocked by Apple if you have the original purchase receipt from the first buyer. The scammer obviously doesn't have that.

Mistake 2: Buying 8GB RAM in 2026

Yes, 8GB is cheaper. But if you want to buy a refurbished MacBook in 2026, you should know: macOS and apps keep requiring more memory. An 8GB MacBook will noticeably slow down in 2-3 years. The extra 100-200 euros for 16GB is almost always worth it.

Mistake 3: Intel Instead of Apple Silicon

Some Intel MacBook deals look temptingly cheap. But Intel Macs no longer receive macOS updates and are significantly slower than Apple Silicon. An M1 MacBook Air for 650 euros beats any Intel MacBook Pro under 1,000 euros.

Mistake 4: Not Checking Battery Condition

A MacBook with 750 charge cycles and 82% battery health will need a new battery soon. That's 139-209 euros extra. Factor that into the purchase price.

Mistake 5: Only Looking at Price

If you want to buy a refurbished MacBook, don't just look at price. The cheapest offer isn't always the best. A seller with 30 months warranty (like asgoodasnew) can be more economical long-term than one with 12 months, even if the device costs 50 euros more.

Is the Refurbished MacBook Air M1 Still Relevant in 2026?

The short answer: Absolutely.

The MacBook Air M1 from 2020 is still an excellent device. It's faster than any Intel Mac, has fantastic battery life, and will receive macOS updates until at least 2027 or 2028.

When you should NOT buy an M1:

• You need ProRes encoding (requires M1 Pro+)

• You want more than one external monitor (requires M2+)

• You need AV1 hardware decoding (requires M3+)

For everyone else, the M1 in 2026 is a stellar value proposition if you want to buy a refurbished MacBook.

Warranty and German Consumer Rights When Buying a Refurbished MacBook

An important point many overlook: With commercial sellers (meaning all refurbished platforms), you're entitled to at least 12 months warranty under German law. That's legally required.

Additionally, most platforms offer voluntary warranties that go beyond this. asgoodasnew and rebuy, for example, offer 30-36 months.

With private purchases (eBay Kleinanzeigen, Facebook Marketplace), there's no warranty coverage. The risk is entirely yours. In comparison: if you want to buy a used MacBook privately, you have zero protection.

A peer-reviewed study analyzing over 60,000 consumer discussions found that 67% of consumers would purchase a refurbished device if assured it came with a warranty. Warranty builds trust. Rightly so.

What Does a Refurbished MacBook Cost in 2026?

Here's an overview of what you can expect to pay when buying a refurbished MacBook in 2026 (as of January 2026):

Prices fluctuate by platform, condition, and configuration. It's worth comparing multiple sellers. That's exactly what comparison sites like refurbito are for.

Conclusion: Buy a Refurbished MacBook in 2026

Buying a refurbished MacBook in 2026 is no longer a risk. It's a smart decision. You save 20-40%, help the environment, and get a device that works just as reliably as a new one.

The key points again:

1. Only buy from reputable platforms with warranty
2. Check battery health and cycle count
3. Get at least 16GB RAM
4. The M1 is still a good deal in 2026
5. Use the 14-day window to test thoroughly

If you want to compare prices across platforms, check out refurbito. We show you where to find the best deal without having to keep ten tabs open yourself.

Good luck with your MacBook purchase. And if you have questions: The comments are open.