AirPods Pro - New or Refurbished?

[dmk1974]

So earlier this week, I found a great deal on ebay for a set of seller refurbished AirPods Pro (supposedly the seller is Walmart returns or something). Got them promptly, inspected them, cleaned them thoroughly (though they looked like new) and have tested them for a few days. Came in-box and all accessories and based on the serial number (matched on the box and inside the charge case lid) they do seem legit and have 7 months warranty left on them. With tax, I paid a total of $179 for them.

The day after I ordered, I also got a brand new pair of AirPods Pro at Best Buy. They did indeed price-match Verizon. After local taxes and the Best Buy Reward Zone certs that I'll earn, these new ones come out to $224 total.

Comparing to the refurbished ones by doing various audio and mic tests and going back and forth, they sound the same and no issues noted on the seller refurbs. Battery life so far on both seem the same and everything else, aside from one being new vs refurb. And both are able to be returned with no issues.

So, which would you keep? Mainly a financial choice. Is it worth the extra $45 for the brand new 5-month newer set? Or save the money if the used ones are perfectly fine? I can't add AC+ to the used ones unfortunately since it's past 60 days. I don't at this point plan to add to the new ones either, but if I did, that would be another $29+tax.

 

[BATman.Berlin]

I’d keep the refurbished and buy my wife a bottle of Champagne from the savings

I have pre-loved APP’s and they work flawlessly.
When they came, they had 11mo warranty left.
Some people just don’t like them and they are perfectly fine. 7mo of warranty left does not mean someone used them for 5 month. They could have been in the shelves for 4 1/2 month.

 

[tn-xyz]

Is it worth the extra $45 for the brand new 5-month newer set?

no, not really.
keep the refurbished ones.

 

[wkd]

battery life would be a major factor for me in buying refurbished as it is not replaceable. are you fine with 5 less months of battery life for a savings of $45?

 

[dmk1974]

battery life would be a major factor for me in buying refurbished as it is not replaceable. are you fine with 5 less months of battery life for a savings of $45?

Is there a good battery life drain test I can compare them with? I can only have 1 pair connected at a time playing music, right?

And there's no way to check the capacity of these things is there? Like Coconut or something?

 

[wkd]

not that i'm aware of

 

[dmk1974]

Well, I did a real-time playback test for each set. Both at 50% volume and the ear detection off. Played the same exact playlist in the same order.

The refurbs went 5:14 before the first died and 5:26 for the second to die.
The new set went 5:23 for the first one to die and then 5:38 for the second.

Maybe the volume on one was a hair different? Anyway, pretty close.