Ok so I bought a refurbished M1 MBA, here are my thoughts

[MajorFubar]

That's probably just partially true. I had my refurbished 2k MBP serviced multiple times for different issues, even not counting the butterfly keyboard. The screen was garbage for example, uneven color, brightness and light bleed in the corners, very obvious stuff.

Yeah that's how new ones came from the factory lol. Those days will be remembered as the Mac's darkest hours IMO.

 

[GuruZac]

Congrats on the purchase! I agree with all of your observations. I really love my M1 MacBook Air. I ordered a new 256GB 7-core 16GB of RAM. I actually didn’t use it much my first 2 years of medical school, but since beginning clinical rotations, I use it all the time, all day, without charging. I certainly don’t need the performance or RAM at this moment, but I bought this for the long term, and honestly believe this computer will hold up well for a long time. Excellent build, excellent display, excellent performance, excellent efficiency/battery, and relatively inexpensive for what you’re getting. It’s probably the best product/dollar Apple has released in some time.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Well, refurbished items from Apple are guaranteed to work and are just like the new products. In fact, they go thru more extensive QC process to ensure no issues arise. Heck, you get the same benefits and warranties as a new product.

The only problem with refurb items is the "stigma" surrounding the word refurb that means used.

I’d probably have mostly refurbished devices if that was available here.
The only person who would know that whatever device is a refurb is myself, so the stigma probably wouldn’t bother me. I know what you mean and when I first came across refurbs I didn’t think it would be a viable alternative. But I’ve heard almost nothing negative about Apple’s refurbished devices in particular so… 🤷‍♂️

 

[jav6454]

I’d probably have mostly refurbished devices if that was available here.
The only person who would know that whatever device is a refurb is myself, so the stigma probably wouldn’t bother me. I know what you mean and when I first came across refurbs I didn’t think it would be a viable alternative. But I’ve heard almost nothing negative about Apple’s refurbished devices in particular so… 🤷‍♂️

Well, that's the thing. Apple refurbs are better due to all the extra QC steps they go thru. Like I said, the stigma is there due to some bad resellers not properly processing refurbs. However, I have bought several refurb iPhones for immediate family and gotten great deals. Heck, I even helped my brother acquire his refurb MBP.

 

[jav6454]

That's probably just partially true. I had my refurbished 2k MBP serviced multiple times for different issues, even not counting the butterfly keyboard. The screen was garbage for example, uneven color, brightness and light bleed in the corners, very obvious stuff.

You are one of the few then, as the experience of several posters here is that refurbs from Apple have exceedingly better quality.

 

[MajorFubar]

You are one of the few then, as the experience of several posters here is that refurbs from Apple have exceedingly better quality.

Like I posted above I think it's more true to say that these were rotten apples to start with (pun intended). I know some people got really lucky and never had any issues with the whole 'butterfly generation', be it their keyboards, 'flexgate' or anything else, but personally I wouldn't (and didn't) touch them with a ten foot pole.

 

[darkpaw]

I usually buy refurbs from Apple because it's the same warranty, and they've gone through more QA etc. Never had a problem with them.

I decided to buy a new M1 MBA 8/8/16/1TB in October 2021 as they didn't have any on refurb, and I've had to have the battery replaced this week after only 9 cycles. I don't use the MBA as my main machine, just for travelling, and it's generally not plugged in when I'm using it. Sadly, just a dodgy battery.

 

[RWil85]

have my M1 MBA 7/8/8/256GB machine that I bought because I needed a Mac to pair up with an iPad Pro being that I'd be taking some classes and doing a bit of programming, etc...love it - but, really wish I had gotten the 8/8/16/1TB to give me even more headroom...was thinking of grabbing that and passing this to the wife to replace her Intel MBP....hmmm

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I usually buy refurbs from Apple because it's the same warranty, and they've gone through more QA etc. Never had a problem with them.

I decided to buy a new M1 MBA 8/8/16/1TB in October 2021 as they didn't have any on refurb, and I've had to have the battery replaced this week after only 9 cycles. I don't use the MBA as my main machine, just for travelling, and it's generally not plugged in when I'm using it. Sadly, just a dodgy battery.

If you don’t mind me asking, what was wrong/how did you know you should get it replaced?

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

have my M1 MBA 7/8/8/256GB machine that I bought because I needed a Mac to pair up with an iPad Pro being that I'd be taking some classes and doing a bit of programming, etc...love it - but, really wish I had gotten the 8/8/16/1TB to give me even more headroom...was thinking of grabbing that and passing this to the wife to replace her Intel MBP....hmmm

Same here. I wish I’d gotten the higher spec version. Just to future-proof a little.
Right now, though, I have zero problems with my MBA (also 7/8/8/256) and it’s easily my favorite laptop I’ve owned so far.
Pretty sure I will be getting the next version they release, too. Especially if it’s colorful 🙈
…16 GB of memory this time, though 😬

 

[darkpaw]

If you don’t mind me asking, what was wrong/how did you know you should get it replaced?

If I left it for 15 minutes, the screen would dim and turn off, going back to the Lock Screen. But then it wasn't possible to get the screen to turn on unless I plugged it in.

I looked in the Battery pane of System Preferences, and it said the battery wasn't functioning normally, service recommended. I tried all the usual things (reset SMC - or whatever the equivalent is on the M1 chips), but nothing worked. Then, it just stopped bothering to power up unless it was plugged in.

Took it to my local Apple Store and they ran diagnostics. It failed immediately on the battery. The lady in the Store said if the battery was no longer capable of charging beyond 80% (a normal battery after a bunch of use) it would show three green squares in the diagnostics thing, and one red, but it was all red.

On the plus side, I get it back tomorrow so it's only taken a week. And as I said it's not my main machine.

 

[Reggaenald]

You are one of the few then, as the experience of several posters here is that refurbs from Apple have exceedingly better quality.

I hope that's true. Because every single refurbished device I got from Apple was send back or serviced (if possible). Every single one.
Albeit it should be noted that I am in Germany, not the US. So handling of rebhrished goods may be different over here.

 

[MajorFubar]

I hope that's true. Because every single refurbished device I got from Apple was send back or serviced (if possible). Every single one.
Albeit it should be noted that I am in Germany, not the US. So handling of rebhrished goods may be different over here.

It would be interesting to know if other German buyers have had the same experience as you or if you've just been unlucky. Apple would be disappointed to know that customers' experience varies from country to country. For years and years I have pretty much exclusively only bought Macs via the official refurbished store, starting with my very first Mac which was a 2010 Mac Mini that I still own. My very first truly new purchase of a Mac was the Studio Max I bought in April. Between buying that first 2010 Mac Mini and my current gear, I've bought two other Mac Minis, four MBPs and a 27" iMac, all via the official refurbished store. They have always worked flawlessly upon receipt and the presentation was as-new. (I'm in the UK)

 

[Reggaenald]

It would be interesting to know if other German buyers have had the same experience as you or if you've just been unlucky. Apple would be disappointed to know that customers' experience varies from country to country. For years and years I have pretty much exclusively only bought Macs via the official refurbished store, starting with my very first Mac which was a 2010 Mac Mini that I still own. My very first truly new purchase of a Mac was the Studio Max I bought in April. Between buying that first 2010 Mac Mini and my current gear, I've bought two other Mac Minis, four MBPs and a 27" iMac, all via the official refurbished store. They have always worked flawlessly upon receipt and the presentation was as-new. (I'm in the UK)

Apple sells actually refurbished iPhones in South America for full prize, so I’d guess they are aware the markets expect different kinds of quality. But I wouldn’t think Germany isn’t picky. I know I am. But looking at other folks they can’t be bothered if their iPhones or macs have obvious issues. I dunno.

 

[jav6454]

I hope that's true. Because every single refurbished device I got from Apple was send back or serviced (if possible). Every single one.
Albeit it should be noted that I am in Germany, not the US. So handling of rebhrished goods may be different over here.

I have no idea what to say, except that maybe your situation is one of those outlier.

 

[Cognizant.]

Well, refurbished items from Apple are guaranteed to work and are just like the new products. In fact, they go thru more extensive QC process to ensure no issues arise. Heck, you get the same benefits and warranties as a new product.

The only problem with refurb items is the "stigma" surrounding the word refurb that means used.

Yeah, Apple refurbs aren't like a any other refurbs. Every refurbished Mac I've bought from Apple I couldn't tell the difference from a new one. Even comes with the peely plastic on it.

 

[jav6454]

Yeah, Apple refurbs aren't like a nay other refurbs. Every refurbished Mac I've bought from Apple I couldn't tell the difference from a new one. Even comes with the peely plastic on it.

The only difference is the price and the white un-marked box it comes in.

 

[Cognizant.]

The only difference is the price and the white un-marked box it comes in.

I've had them come in both the unmarked box and the original Apple box. Just depends, I guess.

 

[uchechris]

On Saturday I took delivery of a refurbished (from Apple) 8/8/512 space grey M1 MBA. After two days of using it intermittently (other stuff to do over the weekend) I've decided that overall this is probably the best computer I have ever owned. It's not the most powerful: my 32/32/2TB Studio Max takes that accolade. But overall as a complete package, I've certainly never had anything to touch it.

1...Battery life: exceptional. Does this thing ever need charged? I'm sure it could get away with being solar charged in the right climate.
2...Screen is excellent and has the right balance between resolution and size. Colour rendition is superb, as is the dynamic range. It's crazy this is actually Apple's worst display.
3...I can throw the most complex Logic projects at the machine, and it just never breaks into a sweat.
4...Bit of video editing? No problem. Ok, videos take longer to render than they do on my Studio Max, but not 1K longer, considering I paid just over 1K for this through Apple Refurb vs the 2K price of a 512GB Studio Max.
5...Speakers are better than they have a right to be. No one talks about how utterly crap the speakers in the Studio are, because it's expected that literally no one will use them (and true to form, I don't). The speakers in the MBA absolutely lay them to waste.
6...Keyboard and trackpad are great to type on and use.
7...Camera is 'good enough' especially in bright light, and the mic is better than good enough.
8...Fanless design means total silence, no matter what you're doing.
9...Bit niche this, but this MBA interfaces more seamlessly with all the gear in my studio (midi controllers, control surfaces, audio interface) than does my Studio Max, with which I have had a stream of intermittent incompatibility issues which were a nightmare to solve. Plug this MBA in and it just worked, like Macs of old used to just do.

What would make it perfect for me: 1x USB A socket on the RHS, and MagSafe charging. There is rumour MagSafe at least will be coming to the M2 MBA, but I suspect we've seen the very last of USB A sockets on Macbook devices.

Thanks for reading.

Was it on Big Sur or Monterey? What OS version you have now? I also have a MacBook Air M1 with Big Sur 11.2.2 already installed from box and I love the battery life so far. Im just afraid that if I update to the latest Big Sur or Monterey that my battery life will be destroy. Just would love so feedback from you.

 

[uchechris]

I got a refurb MBA from Apple last week as well, funnily enough. Picked mine up Friday evening from the Apple Store.

Are you based in the UK? If so you may have snapped up the Space Grey model before me (I had it in my basket and then it disappeared when I went to buy ?). I ended up with a Gold 8/8/512.

I had a 2020 Intel MBA before this (also Gold) and although I already have an M1 Mac mini that I bought on launch week, I was still pleasantly surprised by how much better this MBA is than my old Intel. It's shocking that they were released the same year, mere months apart.

Battery life is great. It truly is full-day battery life. The Intel would be dead within 4 hours, but I'm currently sat on 41 % battery left after using it all day.

Performance is also fantastic. I can actually watch YouTube and Twitch in Safari without fans blasting and system animations are so much smoother. The overall experience is just so much better than the Intel MBA which has more RAM and again, was released the same year.

Something else I noticed which I really didn't expect to was the P3 colour gamut in the M1 MBA vs. the sRGB of the Intel one. Colours really pop on this display and it's great to see macOS as vibrant as iOS / iPad OS.

Another phenomenon I've experienced which I didn't even know was a thing is something I'm calling 'phantom fan noise'. It's where I'm doing something that I know would definitely get my Intel MacBooks screaming (e.g. playing a game) and it's like my brain is expecting to hear fan noise, so I start subconsciously hearing it despite it being impossible thanks to the M1 having no fans. I'm just so used to loud and noisy MacBooks so it's so refreshing to have a silent machine for a change.

Very happy with the purchase and I think I'll be getting more refurbs from Apple in the future. I was having a conversation with an Apple Store rep not too long back who said that Apple refurbs essentially get a whole new chassis and it's only the components on the inside that are refurbed. Everything else is brand new.

Same question that ask to the OP; Was it on Big Sur or Monterey? What OS version you have now? I also have a MacBook Air M1 with Big Sur 11.2.2 already installed from box and I love the battery life so far. Im just afraid that if I update to the latest Big Sur or Monterey that my battery life will be destroy. Just would love so feedback from you.

 

[MajorFubar]

All new and Apple Refurb Macs ship with Monterey AFAIK, as did mine.

 

[uchechris]

All new and Apple Refurb Macs ship with Monterey AFAIK, as did mine.

Thank you for the response. What was your battery life like if I may ask? Were you getting at least "up to 18 hours" that Apple claims from their website? What was your experience with Monterey? I apologize if I ask a lot, I just wanna make sure if its time that I should go update to Monterey since I have a MacBook Air M1 but it was shipped with Big Sur since I purchase it May of 2021.

 

[darkpaw]

Thank you for the response. What was your battery life like if I may ask? Were you getting at least "up to 18 hours" that Apple claims from their website? What was your experience with Monterey? I apologize if I ask a lot, I just wanna make sure if its time that I should go update to Monterey since I have a MacBook Air M1 but it was shipped with Big Sur since I purchase it May of 2021.

There have been no reports of Monterey causing any excessive battery usage, so you're safe to upgrade. Take a Time Machine backup if you're worried, or create a new volume in Disk Utility and install Monterey on that to play around.