Still ok to buy refurbished MBP M1p in late 2023?

[neo_cs193p]

Has anybody bought an M1 pro/max MacBook Pro from Apple Refurbished lately (second half of 2023)?

Here's my concern. It's been almost 1 year since Apple stopped selling these new. So where do they source them?
Can we still trust the quality of the product to be as good as new? Or do they sell heavily used trade-ins at this point?
Should I expect the case & screen to be flawless or can it have scratches?
Should I expect the battery to be 100% or can it be worn down?

 

[Fishrrman]

If you buy from Apple's online store, it will come with a 1-year warranty and in all likelihood will look like new or actually BE "new" (as in "unsold new old stock").

Don't buy from anyone other than Apple.

If it was me, I'd buy either a new or Apple refurbished m2pro ...

 

[Nbd1790]

I would 100% still purchase it. It's a fantastic computer (both the Pro & Max). As mentioned in previous post, Apple refurb is the only refurb to buy. It will be in new condition (if not actually new).

Also, check B&H website. They still have a few configurations of the M1 Pro & Max models at crazy discounts. A friend of mine just picked up a 14 inch M1 Max 64gb of Ram and 2TB storage for nearly half off. (These are also completely brand new and eligible for AppleCare).

I'll link below, but also just type MacBook Pro M1 into the search to see what configs they have left.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1668246-REG/apple_mbp_14_sg_46_14_2_macbook_pro_with.html

 

[MacPoulet]

I bought a 14" M1 Pro base model a few weeks ago from Apple's refurb store. Aside from the plain white box, you'd never know it was a refurb. It's super quick and I love it.

I did purchase the annual Applecare+ (it's slightly more than buying the three year plan up front but the annual payment works better for my particular situation) and after my experience with my 2017 12" MacBook, I'd get it for just about any laptop.

 

[neo_cs193p]

will look like new or actually BE "new" (as in "unsold new old stock").

This is what I've always heard about Apple Refurbished, but it's still hard for me to understand how the base model disappears from their store for long periods of time and then reappears, if they have a stock of them somewhere (and presumably have stopped producing them a long time ago).

 

[HDFan]

it's still hard for me to understand how the base model disappears from their store for long periods of time

Availability depends upon their receiving systems for refurbishment. If they don't receive a specific model then you won't see it in the refurb store.

 

[neo_cs193p]

Availability depends upon their receiving systems for refurbishment. If they don't receive a specific model then you won't see it in the refurb store.

So it can be an old computer (used for 1 year let's say), but with some components replaced so that it looks new, and presumably a new battery?

 

[MacPoulet]

So it can be an old computer (used for 1 year let's say), but with some components replaced so that it looks new, and presumably a new battery?

Yes.

 

[neo_cs193p]

Yes.

Thanks for clarifying. That sounds a bit less enticing than "as good as new".

 

[MacPoulet]

Thanks for clarifying. That sounds a bit less enticing than "as good as new".

Though I would say that getting such a machine would be quite rare. Anything that's been running for a year would likely be used as a service replacement or a loaner.

All of my refurbs are indistinguishable from new.

 

[scottrngr]

This is what I've always heard about Apple Refurbished, but it's still hard for me to understand how the base model disappears from their store for long periods of time and then reappears, if they have a stock of them somewhere (and presumably have stopped producing them a long time ago).

Someone one trades in a previous model, and Apple puts it on the refurb store. I saw today they had a refurbed iPhone 12 for sale.

 

[TinyMito]

M1 Pro here, still does everything I need. I really don't feel the need to upgrade unless you want more GPU power alone. Gaming, I got a RTX 3080 here.

 

[HDFan]

So it can be an old computer (used for 1 year let's say),

That sounds a bit less enticing than "as good as new".

It could be better than new. Assuming just a battery replacement, a bell curve failure rate would imply that you would avoid the higher possible initial failure rate of the other components since it has already passed that point.

 

[DaveEcc]

Their refurb page tells you what to expect:

Why Refurbished

Save up to 15% and get a one-year warranty with the Apple Refurbished purchasing programme. Read more on the Apple Refurbished promise.

www.apple.com

You will receive a refurbished device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Refurbished iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems. footnote 1 All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.

We back this quality commitment by including our standard one-year limited warranty with every Apple Certified Refurbished product. You also have the option of getting additional coverage by purchasing AppleCare products.

I've got a still in use refurb late 2012 27" i7 iMac, and a refurb late 2013 15" MBP that was only retired when I upgraded to a an 14" M1Pro MBP... so you can expect refurbs to still live a long life.

 

[squeeks]

I got an m1 max from B&H a couple of months ago and love it! Previous 2 computers were MBPs from the referb store and I would 100% buy from there again. The B&H deal was just too good to pass up. It was cheaper than referb.

 

[Mac mini power user]

The M1 Pro MBP is still a very good purchase at a discount, even more so at B&H, as @Nbd1790 stated above. The only differences between the M1 Pro and M2 Pro are slightly better performance, Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 5, HDMI 2.1 (useful if you want to use an 8K display at full refresh rate). You'll be better off grabbing a higher-end specced M1 Pro/Max 14-inch MBP from B&H than buying the M2 Pro at its current price.

 

[sack_peak]

Has anybody bought an M1 pro/max MacBook Pro from Apple Refurbished lately (second half of 2023)?

Here's my concern. It's been almost 1 year since Apple stopped selling these new. So where do they source them?
Can we still trust the quality of the product to be as good as new? Or do they sell heavily used trade-ins at this point?
Should I expect the case & screen to be flawless or can it have scratches?
Should I expect the battery to be 100% or can it be worn down?

Persons considering refurbs do so to lower cost of purchase.

So is it OK buying? Check the wallet or the wife.

 

[maerz001]

all products sold there are flawless. If u don’t believe it buy and send it back within 14 days

 

[Kung]

I'd have no issues purchasing *ANY* refurbished product from Apple...and in fact have done so several times in the past. Half the time they're returned for issues and are essentially broken down and rebuilt as if new. The other half the time, it just means someone bought it, said "I don't like this color" and returned it. LOL

My previous Apple laptop (MBA M2) was a refurbished, actually. I traded it in ONLY because I wanted a MBP.

 

[saudor]

The only issue is that you have less years of support. 5 years seems to be the current timeframe before OS support is lost for both macs and iphones. Since these were 2021, based on current support time frames you can expect to lose OS support in 2026 or just 3 years from now.

Macbooks also dont come with new batteries unlike iphones nor do they have a new shell so they’re basically customer returns/used but with 1 year warranty. A friend bought one refurb and it had about 20 charge cycles - not a lot but something to keep in mind

 

[MacPoulet]

With regard to battery cycles, I never checked mine when I got my MacBook Pro, but today, after one month of ownership I'm at 5 cycles.

 

[neo_cs193p]

The only issue is that you have less years of support. 5 years seems to be the current timeframe before OS support is lost for both macs and iphones. Since these were 2021, based on current support time frames you can expect to lose OS support in 2026 or just 3 years from now.

Good point, but here's my (purely speculative) theory on this.
As long as they are still selling new M1 Airs we're good. The OS support count down hasn't started yet.
Because I find it hard to believe that in 4 years from now, they will still support the plain M1 but not the more powerful M1P & M1M alongside it. If my guess is correct, the M1[x] generation will probably have the longest support ever.

 

[saudor]

Good point, but here's my (purely speculative) theory on this.
As long as they are still selling new M1 Airs we're good. The OS support count down hasn't started yet.
Because I find it hard to believe that in 4 years from now, they will still support the plain M1 but not the more powerful M1P & M1M alongside it. If my guess is correct, the M1[x] generation will probably have the longest support ever.

That’s how it was before but they seem to not follow that as much recently e.g. 8+ was discontinued in 2020 but it was dropped in 2023. the imac 2017 was discontinued in 2021 but dropped from support in 2023. However, both have that magical 5 years of OS support common


It’s all speculation though since the ipads still break the 5 year rule. The more powerful A11 in the iphone was dropped from iOS17 but the a10 in the ipad get it etc. I like to think they’ll support it longer because 5 years is just too short especially given how much power these things have

 

[OrenLindsey]

I got an M2 Pro through refurbished, it was absolutely perfect condition. They test everything, all the ports, and it's in perfect physical condition. It's basically new. As for the battery though, I don't know. They don't say that they replace the battery. Mine was perfectly new, but you may get a slightly used one. I don't think they'd sell one with a trash battery.

 

[xraydoc]

Has anybody bought an M1 pro/max MacBook Pro from Apple Refurbished lately (second half of 2023)?

Here's my concern. It's been almost 1 year since Apple stopped selling these new. So where do they source them?
Can we still trust the quality of the product to be as good as new? Or do they sell heavily used trade-ins at this point?
Should I expect the case & screen to be flawless or can it have scratches?
Should I expect the battery to be 100% or can it be worn down?

I can't speak as to where any individual machine is coming from, but I'm using a M1 Pro 14" MBP as a desktop-replacement (two Studio Displays plus the laptop's own display for a three-display system) and it's a multitasking dream.

If I were carefully controlling my budget and I got a good deal on one in top notch condition, I'd have no reservations about it.

Macs have always 'lasted' much longer than their PC counterparts.